What does the inequality operator (!=) do?

The inequality operator, represented as !=, is specifically designed to check if two values are not equal to each other. When this operator is used between two variables or values, it evaluates to either True or False based on their equality. If the values on either side of the operator differ, the result will be True; if they are the same, the result will be False. This operator is essential in control flow statements and looping constructs where decisions are made based on whether data values differ.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of the inequality operator, highlighting the distinct role of != in comparison operations in programming.