# Compare two identical values

Set a complete reference and check a known exact match.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/matchbench/guides/exact-comparison

Audience: Operator

## Compare two identical values

1. **Start a comparison**

   Start a comparison.

   Use a known reference and check each label separately. These practice values are synthetic. An exact match is not a physical contents or optical approval.

2. **Keep every leading zero**

   Keep every leading zero.

   Enter the complete reference. MatchBench preserves each character exactly, including spaces and leading zeroes.

3. **Move on to checking labels**

   Move on to checking labels.

   The reference stays fixed until you deliberately change it. Each submitted comparison stays in history.

4. **Check an identical value**

   Check an identical value.

   All six characters agree. A match proves only that the decoded values are equal, not that two separate physical labels were scanned.

5. **Review every retained check**

   Review every retained check.

   Review the newest check first, with its original reference and recorded entry source. A correction does not delete the earlier observation.

[Watch or practise this chapter](https://help.smartfact.ai/matchbench/demo?guide=exact-comparison&chapter=exact-comparison)