diff --git a/hoot-core/src/main/cpp/hoot/core/elements/ElementComparison.h b/hoot-core/src/main/cpp/hoot/core/elements/ElementComparison.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9335c6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hoot-core/src/main/cpp/hoot/core/elements/ElementComparison.h
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of Hootenanny.
+ *
+ * Hootenanny is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ * --------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *
+ * The following copyright notices are generated automatically. If you
+ * have a new notice to add, please use the format:
+ * " * @copyright Copyright ..."
+ * This will properly maintain the copyright information. DigitalGlobe
+ * copyrights will be updated automatically.
+ *
+ * @copyright Copyright (C) 2020 DigitalGlobe (http://www.digitalglobe.com/)
+ */
+#ifndef ELEMENT_COMPARISON_H
+#define ELEMENT_COMPARISON_H
+
+// Hoot
+#include <hoot/core/elements/OsmMap.h>
+#include <hoot/core/elements/ElementComparer.h>
+#include <hoot/core/schema/MetadataTags.h>
+
+namespace hoot
+{
+
+/**
+ * Allows for comparing elements within a collection
+ *
+ * @see ElementComparer
+ */
+class ElementComparison
+{
+public:
+
+ ElementComparison();
+ ElementComparison(ElementPtr element, const OsmMap& sourceMap,
+ const bool ignoreElementId = false);
+
+ ElementPtr getElement() const { return _element; }
+
+ virtual bool operator==(const ElementComparison& elementComp) const;
+
+ virtual QString toString() const;
+
+ bool isNull() const { return !_element.get(); }
+
+ /**
+ * Wrapper around ElementHashVisitor::toHashString
+ */
+ QString toHashString() const { return _elementComparer.toHashString(_element); }
+
+protected:
+
+ // This isn't const due to ElementComparer needing to add the hash to it before comparison.
+ ElementPtr _element;
+ ElementComparer _elementComparer;
+};
+
+inline uint qHash(const ElementComparison& elementComp)
+{
+ // reuse the hash if its already there
+ const QString hashFromTag =
+ elementComp.getElement()->getTags().get(MetadataTags::HootHash()).trimmed();
+ if (!hashFromTag.isEmpty())
+ {
+ return qHash(hashFromTag);
+ }
+ return qHash(elementComp.toHashString());
+}
+
+}
+
+#endif // ELEMENT_COMPARISON_H