(BUG): using less than operator in javascript

Question

I am using Jdeveloper 11.1.1.5.0, ADF BC, ADF Faces.
I am trying to add some java script validation in my page, just want to check if the length of an input field is less than three or not.
here is the function I used
function filterForNumbers(evt){
var inputField = evt.getSource();
var oldValue  = inputField.getValue();
var myField   = inputField.findComponent("it2");
var len = oldValue.length;
if (len < 3)      
   alert ("the length is <  3" );
   myField.setValue("");
}when I use the less then operator (<) in this part
if (len < 3)ADF frame work considers the < as an open tag and when I run the page, it shows this error message in the log
Error(16,16):  Illegal token.
and the page does not run.
workaround*
using this syntax instead
if (3 > len)

Answer 1

Thank again Sireesha,
I tried your suggestion with and without space. What I get is that the there is no thing on the page (only blank page is shown).
here is my page source
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<jsp:root xmlns:jsp="http://java.sun.com/JSP/Page" version="2.1"
          xmlns:f="http://java.sun.com/jsf/core"
          xmlns:h="http://java.sun.com/jsf/html"
          xmlns:af="http://xmlns.oracle.com/adf/faces/rich">
  <jsp:directive.page contentType="text/html;charset=UTF-8"/>
  <f:view>
    <af:document id="d1" partialTriggers="it2">
      <af:resource type="javascript">
       function filterForNumbers(evt){
       var inputField = evt.getSource();
       var oldValue = inputField.getValue();
       var myField = inputField.findComponent("it2");
       var len = oldValue.length;
       if (len &lt 3)      
         alert ("the length is <  3" );
         myField.setValue("");
      </af:resource>
      <af:messages id="m1"/>
      <af:form id="f1">
        <af:panelFormLayout id="pfl1">
          <af:inputText value="#{bindings.Id.inputValue}"
                        label="#{bindings.Id.hints.label}"
                        required="#{bindings.Id.hints.mandatory}"
                        columns="#{bindings.Id.hints.displayWidth}"
                        maximumLength="#{bindings.Id.hints.precision}"
                        shortDesc="#{bindings.Id.hints.tooltip}" id="it1">
            <f:validator binding="#{bindings.Id.validator}"/>
            <af:convertNumber groupingUsed="false"
                              pattern="#{bindings.Id.format}"/>
          </af:inputText>
          <af:inputText value="#{bindings.Description.inputValue}"
                        label="#{bindings.Description.hints.label}"
                        columns="#{bindings.Description.hints.displayWidth}"
                        maximumLength="#{bindings.Description.hints.precision}"
                        shortDesc="#{bindings.Description.hints.tooltip}"
                        id="it2" required="true">
            <f:validator binding="#{bindings.Description.validator}"/>
            <af:clientListener method="filterForNumbers" type="valueChange"/>
          </af:inputText>
          <af:inputText value="#{bindings.Flag.inputValue}"
                        label="#{bindings.Flag.hints.label}"
                        required="#{bindings.Flag.hints.mandatory}"
                        columns="#{bindings.Flag.hints.displayWidth}"
                        maximumLength="#{bindings.Flag.hints.precision}"
                        shortDesc="#{bindings.Flag.hints.tooltip}" id="it3">
            <f:validator binding="#{bindings.Flag.validator}"/>
          </af:inputText>
          <f:facet name="footer">
            <af:panelGroupLayout layout="vertical" id="pgl2">
              <af:panelGroupLayout layout="horizontal" id="pgl1">
                <af:commandButton actionListener="#{bindings.First.execute}"
                                  text="First"
                                  disabled="#{!bindings.First.enabled}"
                                  partialSubmit="true" id="cb3"/>
                <af:commandButton actionListener="#{bindings.Previous.execute}"
                                  text="Previous"
                                  disabled="#{!bindings.Previous.enabled}"
                                  partialSubmit="true" id="cb4"/>
                <af:commandButton actionListener="#{bindings.Next.execute}"
                                  text="Next"
                                  disabled="#{!bindings.Next.enabled}"
                                  partialSubmit="true" id="cb5"/>
                <af:commandButton actionListener="#{bindings.Last.execute}"
                                  text="Last"
                                  disabled="#{!bindings.Last.enabled}"
                                  partialSubmit="true" id="cb1"/>
              </af:panelGroupLayout>
              <af:commandButton text="Submit" id="cb2"/>
            </af:panelGroupLayout>
          </f:facet>
        </af:panelFormLayout>
      </af:form>
    </af:document>
  </f:view>
</jsp:root>