diff --git a/wp-includes/general-template.php b/wp-includes/general-template.php
index e96f0f7c37..11dffac4b3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/general-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/general-template.php
@@ -4579,7 +4579,7 @@ function paginate_links( $args = '' ) {
 	$dots       = false;
 
 	if ( $args['prev_next'] && $current && 1 < $current ) :
-		$link = str_replace( '%_%', 2 == $current ? '' : $args['format'], $args['base'] );
+		$link = str_replace( '%_%', 2 === $current ? '' : $args['format'], $args['base'] );
 		$link = str_replace( '%#%', $current - 1, $link );
 		if ( $add_args ) {
 			$link = add_query_arg( $add_args, $link );
@@ -4601,7 +4601,7 @@ function paginate_links( $args = '' ) {
 	endif;
 
 	for ( $n = 1; $n <= $total; $n++ ) :
-		if ( $n == $current ) :
+		if ( $n === $current ) :
 			$page_links[] = sprintf(
 				'<span aria-current="%s" class="page-numbers current">%s</span>',
 				esc_attr( $args['aria_current'] ),
@@ -4611,7 +4611,7 @@ function paginate_links( $args = '' ) {
 			$dots = true;
 		else :
 			if ( $args['show_all'] || ( $n <= $end_size || ( $current && $n >= $current - $mid_size && $n <= $current + $mid_size ) || $n > $total - $end_size ) ) :
-				$link = str_replace( '%_%', 1 == $n ? '' : $args['format'], $args['base'] );
+				$link = str_replace( '%_%', 1 === $n ? '' : $args['format'], $args['base'] );
 				$link = str_replace( '%#%', $n, $link );
 				if ( $add_args ) {
 					$link = add_query_arg( $add_args, $link );
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 7acd45aaf2..903580622c 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59605';
+$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59606';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.