array_equal

Checks if two arrays contain the same elements (regardless of order). Returns true if both arrays have identical elements, false otherwise.

{% assign array_a = "apple,banana,cherry" | split: "," %}
{% assign array_b = "cherry,apple,banana" | split: "," %}
{% assign array_c = "apple,banana" | split: "," %}

{% if array_a | array_equal: array_b %}
  Arrays A and B are equal
{% endif %}

{% unless array_a | array_equal: array_c %}
  Arrays A and C are different
{% endunless %}

Output:

Arrays A and B are equal
Arrays A and C are different

Syntax

{{ arrayA | array_equal: arrayB }}

Parameter	Description
arrayA	First array
arrayB	Second array to compare

Return Value

Condition	Result
Same elements (any order)	true
Different lengths	false
Different elements	false
Either input not an array	Error

Examples

Verify tag synchronization:

{% assign shopify_tags = product.tags | split: ", " | sort %}
{% assign expected_tags = erp_product.tags | sort %}

{% if shopify_tags | array_equal: expected_tags %}
  {% log "Tags are in sync" %}
{% else %}
  {% log "Tag mismatch detected - syncing..." %}
  {% comment %} Update tags {% endcomment %}
{% endif %}

Check if permissions unchanged:

{% assign current_permissions = user.permissions %}
{% assign required_permissions = role.default_permissions %}

{% if current_permissions | array_equal: required_permissions %}
  {% log "User has standard permissions for role" %}
{% else %}
  {% log "User has custom permissions" %}
{% endif %}

Validate order contents:

{% assign ordered_skus = order.line_items | map: "sku" | sort %}
{% assign expected_skus = subscription.items | map: "sku" | sort %}

{% if ordered_skus | array_equal: expected_skus %}
  {% log "Order matches subscription exactly" %}
{% else %}
  {% log "Order differs from subscription" %}

  {% assign missing = expected_skus | array_difference: ordered_skus %}
  {% assign extra = ordered_skus | array_difference: expected_skus %}

  {% if missing.size > 0 %}
    {% log "Missing items: " | append: missing | join: ", " %}
  {% endif %}

  {% if extra.size > 0 %}
    {% log "Extra items: " | append: extra | join: ", " %}
  {% endif %}
{% endif %}

Compare collection contents:

{% assign collection_a_ids = collection_a.products | map: "id" | sort %}
{% assign collection_b_ids = collection_b.products | map: "id" | sort %}

{% if collection_a_ids | array_equal: collection_b_ids %}
  {% log "Collections contain the same products" %}
{% else %}
  {% log "Collections have different products" %}
{% endif %}

Detect configuration changes:

{% assign current_config = "feature_a,feature_b,feature_c" | split: "," %}
{% assign saved_config = shop_metafield.value | split: "," %}

{% unless current_config | array_equal: saved_config %}
  {% log "Configuration has changed - saving..." %}

  {% comment %} Save new configuration {% endcomment %}
  {% json metafield_input %}
    {
      "metafields": [{
        "ownerId": "{{ shop.id }}",
        "namespace": "config",
        "key": "features",
        "value": "{{ current_config | join: "," }}",
        "type": "single_line_text_field"
      }]
    }
  {% endjson %}

  {% graphql query: metafields_set, variables: metafield_input as result %}
{% endunless %}

Conditional processing based on array state:

{% assign empty_array = "[]" | parse %}
{% assign results = api_response.items | default: empty_array %}

{% if results | array_equal: empty_array %}
  {% log "No results returned from API" %}
{% else %}
  {% log "Processing " | append: results.size | append: " results" %}
  {% for item in results %}
    {% comment %} Process item {% endcomment %}
  {% endfor %}
{% endif %}

Important Notes on Comparison

Order does not matter:

{% assign a = "1,2,3" | split: "," %}
{% assign b = "3,2,1" | split: "," %}
{{ a | array_equal: b }}  {% comment %} true {% endcomment %}

Duplicates matter:

{% assign a = "1,2,2,3" | split: "," %}
{% assign b = "1,2,3" | split: "," %}
{{ a | array_equal: b }}  {% comment %} false (different lengths) {% endcomment %}

Type matters (strict equality):

{% assign a = "[1, 2, 3]" | parse %}
{% assign b = "['1', '2', '3']" | parse %}
{{ a | array_equal: b }}  {% comment %} false (numbers vs strings) {% endcomment %}

Notes

• Both inputs must be arrays; throws error otherwise

• Comparison is order-independent (set equality)

• Uses strict equality (===) for element comparison

• Arrays with different lengths are immediately false (fast path)

• For order-sensitive comparison, convert to strings: arrayA | join: "," == arrayB | join: ","

• See also: array_difference, array_intersection, array_symmetric_difference