What does "===" represent in JavaScript?

In JavaScript, "===" represents a strict comparison operator that evaluates both the value and the type of the operands involved in the comparison. This means that when you use "===" to compare two values, the operator will only return true if the values are equal and of the same type. For example, the expression 5 === '5' will evaluate to false because, despite both representing the same numeric value, one is a number and the other is a string.

This strict equality is particularly useful in ensuring type safety in your comparisons, preventing unexpected results that can occur with loose comparisons, where type coercion may take place. Thus, using "===" helps maintain strict control over the values being compared, ensuring that comparisons yield predictable outcomes in your code.