Comparing strings with JSTL

Question

I have two strings that i need to compare, but even if they have the same values or different , it always enters the statement...

<c:when test="#{bean.name1 != bean.name2}">
     fields that are supposed to appear _only_ when name1 is different from name2
</c:when>

Answer 1

The problem is that you probably did not wrap the when in a choose tag.

if you have:

    <c:choose>
    <c:when test="${bean.name1 != bean.name2}">
        fields that are supposed to appear _only_ when name1 is different from name2
    </c:when>
</c:choose>

It will work

Answer 2

Should it be ?

<c:if test="#{bean.name1 != bean.name2}">
     // code
</c:if>

EDIT : <c:when> is supposed to be inside <c:choose>. Cannot ask why, that is just the syntax. It is like asking why if will not work in place of switch in C/C++/Java. They are just different animals.