diff --git a/doc/lispref/objects.texi b/doc/lispref/objects.texi
index 399a1d169c2..34ea7cf4996 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/objects.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/objects.texi
@@ -2413,10 +2413,12 @@ the converse is not always true.
 @end group
 @end example
 
-The @code{equal} function recursively compares the contents of objects
-if they are integers, strings, markers, lists, cons cells, vectors,
-bool-vectors, byte-code function objects, char-tables, records, or font
-objects.
+The @code{equal} function compares strings and bool-vectors by value.
+Numbers are compared by type and numeric value, using @code{eql}.
+Lists, cons cells, vectors, records, markers, char-tables, font objects,
+and function objects (closures)@footnote{However, equality of distinct
+function objects cannot be guaranteed in general.} are compared
+recursively by using @code{equal} on their constituent parts.
 
 Comparison of strings is case-sensitive, but does not take account of
 text properties---it compares only the characters in the strings.