# BEFORE\_EQUAL ### Description `BEFORE_EQUAL` takes two dates, from either an information or in [ISO8601 format](/rule-language/operators/date-operators.md), and checks if the first one comes before, or is the same as, the second. If it does, true will be returned. Otherwise false will be returned. ### Example ``` e is Entity BEFORE_EQUAL(e.date_of_founding, '2016-02-29') ``` This expression checks whether a company was founded on or before 29th February 2016 (the actual founding date of Atfinity AG; so also if it's older or the same age as Atfinity). If it was, this expression will return true. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.atfinity.io/rule-language/operators/date-operators/before_equal.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.