CompareInfo.Compare Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.Globalization

Assembly:: System.Globalization.dll

Assembly:: System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Compares two strings.

Overloads

Compare(String, String)	Compares two strings.
Compare(ReadOnlySpan<Char>, ReadOnlySpan<Char>, CompareOptions)	Compares two read-only spans of characters.
Compare(String, String, CompareOptions)	Compares two strings using the specified CompareOptions value.
Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32)	Compares the end section of a string with the end section of another string.
Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32, CompareOptions)	Compares the end section of a string with the end section of another string using the specified CompareOptions value.
Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32)	Compares a section of one string with a section of another string.
Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32, CompareOptions)	Compares a section of one string with a section of another string using the specified CompareOptions value.

Compare(String, String)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares two strings.

public:
 virtual int Compare(System::String ^ string1, System::String ^ string2);

public:
 int Compare(System::String ^ string1, System::String ^ string2);

public virtual int Compare (string string1, string string2);

public int Compare (string? string1, string? string2);

public virtual int Compare (string? string1, string? string2);

abstract member Compare : string * string -> int
override this.Compare : string * string -> int

member this.Compare : string * string -> int

Public Overridable Function Compare (string1 As String, string2 As String) As Integer

Public Function Compare (string1 As String, string2 As String) As Integer

Parameters

string1: String

The first string to compare.

string2: String

The second string to compare.

Returns

Int32

A 32-bit signed integer indicating the lexical relationship between the two comparands.

Value	Condition
zero	The two strings are equal.
less than zero	`string1` is less than `string2`.
greater than zero	`string1` is greater than `string2`.

Examples

The following example compares portions of two strings using the different CompareInfo objects:

CompareInfo object associated with the Spanish (Spain) culture with international sort
CompareInfo object associated with the Spanish (Spain) culture with traditional sort
CompareInfo object associated with the InvariantCulture

// The following code example compares two strings using the different CompareInfo instances:
//    a CompareInfo instance associated with the S"Spanish - Spain" culture with international sort,
//    a CompareInfo instance associated with the S"Spanish - Spain" culture with traditional sort, and
//    a CompareInfo instance associated with the InvariantCulture.
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Globalization;
int main()
{
   
   // Defines the strings to compare.
   String^ myStr1 = "calle";
   String^ myStr2 = "calor";
   
   // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that 
   // uses the S"es-ES" culture with international sort.
   CompareInfo^ myCompIntl = CompareInfo::GetCompareInfo( "es-ES" );
   
   // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that 
   // uses the S"es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
   CompareInfo^ myCompTrad = CompareInfo::GetCompareInfo( 0x040A );
   
   // Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
   CompareInfo^ myCompInva = CultureInfo::InvariantCulture->CompareInfo;
   
   // Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
   Console::WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1, myStr2 );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompIntl::Compare: {0}", myCompIntl->Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompTrad::Compare: {0}", myCompTrad->Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompInva::Compare: {0}", myCompInva->Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "calle" and "calor"
   With myCompIntl::Compare: -1
   With myCompTrad::Compare: 1
   With myCompInva::Compare: -1
*/

// The following code example compares two strings using the different CompareInfo instances:
//    a CompareInfo instance associated with the "Spanish - Spain" culture with international sort,
//    a CompareInfo instance associated with the "Spanish - Spain" culture with traditional sort, and
//    a CompareInfo instance associated with the InvariantCulture.

using System;
using System.Globalization;

public class SamplesCompareInfo  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Defines the strings to compare.
      String myStr1 = "calle";
      String myStr2 = "calor";

      // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with international sort.
      CompareInfo myCompIntl = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo( "es-ES" );

      // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
      CompareInfo myCompTrad = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo( 0x040A );

      // Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
      CompareInfo myCompInva = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo;

      // Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
      Console.WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1, myStr2 );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompIntl.Compare: {0}", myCompIntl.Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompTrad.Compare: {0}", myCompTrad.Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompInva.Compare: {0}", myCompInva.Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "calle" and "calor"
   With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
   With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
   With myCompInva.Compare: -1

*/

' The following code example compares two strings using the different CompareInfo instances:
'    a CompareInfo instance associated with the "Spanish - Spain" culture with international sort,
'    a CompareInfo instance associated with the "Spanish - Spain" culture with traditional sort, and
'    a CompareInfo instance associated with the InvariantCulture.

Imports System.Globalization

Public Class SamplesCompareInfo

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Defines the strings to compare.
      Dim myStr1 As [String] = "calle"
      Dim myStr2 As [String] = "calor"

      ' Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with international sort.
      Dim myCompIntl As CompareInfo = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo("es-ES")

      ' Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
      Dim myCompTrad As CompareInfo = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo(&H40A)

      ' Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
      Dim myCompInva As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo

      ' Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
      Console.WriteLine("Comparing ""{0}"" and ""{1}""", myStr1, myStr2)
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompIntl.Compare: {0}", myCompIntl.Compare(myStr1, myStr2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompTrad.Compare: {0}", myCompTrad.Compare(myStr1, myStr2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompInva.Compare: {0}", myCompInva.Compare(myStr1, myStr2))

   End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Comparing "calle" and "calor"
'   With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
'   With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
'   With myCompInva.Compare: -1

The following example demonstrates calling the Compare method.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Text;
using namespace System::Globalization;

int main()
{
    array<String^>^ sign = gcnew array<String^> { "<", "=", ">" };

    // The code below demonstrates how strings compare
    // differently for different cultures.
    String^ s1 = "Coté"; 
    String^ s2 = "coté";
    String^ s3 = "côte";

    // Set sort order of strings for French in France.
    CompareInfo^ ci = (gcnew CultureInfo("fr-FR"))->CompareInfo;
    Console::WriteLine(L"The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci->Name, ci->LCID);

    // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of Coté = coté.
    Console::WriteLine(L"fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
        s1, s2, sign[ci->Compare(s1, s2, CompareOptions::IgnoreCase) + 1]);

    // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of coté > côte.
    Console::WriteLine(L"fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
        s2, s3, sign[ci->Compare(s2, s3, CompareOptions::None) + 1]);

    // Set sort order of strings for Japanese as spoken in Japan.
    ci = (gcnew CultureInfo("ja-JP"))->CompareInfo;
    Console::WriteLine(L"The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci->Name, ci->LCID);

    // Display the result using ja-JP Compare of coté < côte.
    Console::WriteLine("ja-JP Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
        s2, s3, sign[ci->Compare(s2, s3) + 1]);
}

// This code produces the following output.
//
// The LCID for fr-FR is 1036.
// fr-FR Compare: Coté = coté
// fr-FR Compare: coté > côte
// The LCID for ja-JP is 1041.
// ja-JP Compare: coté < côte

using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Globalization;

public sealed class App
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        String[] sign = new String[] { "<", "=", ">" };

        // The code below demonstrates how strings compare
        // differently for different cultures.
        String s1 = "Coté", s2 = "coté", s3 = "côte";

        // Set sort order of strings for French in France.
        CompareInfo ci = new CultureInfo("fr-FR").CompareInfo;
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID);

        // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of Coté = coté.  	
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
            s1, s2, sign[ci.Compare(s1, s2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase) + 1]);

        // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of coté > côte.
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
            s2, s3, sign[ci.Compare(s2, s3, CompareOptions.None) + 1]);

        // Set sort order of strings for Japanese as spoken in Japan.
        ci = new CultureInfo("ja-JP").CompareInfo;
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID);

        // Display the result using ja-JP Compare of coté < côte.
        Console.WriteLine("ja-JP Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
            s2, s3, sign[ci.Compare(s2, s3) + 1]);
    }
}

// This code produces the following output.
//
// The LCID for fr-FR is 1036.
// fr-FR Compare: Coté = coté
// fr-FR Compare: coté > côte
// The LCID for ja-JP is 1041.
// ja-JP Compare: coté < côte

Imports System.Text
Imports System.Globalization

NotInheritable Public Class App
    Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String) 
        Dim sign() As String = {"<", "=", ">"}
        
        ' The code below demonstrates how strings compare 
        ' differently for different cultures.
        Dim s1 As String = "Coté"
        Dim s2 As String = "coté"
        Dim s3 As String = "côte"
        
        ' Set sort order of strings for French in France.
        Dim ci As CompareInfo = New CultureInfo("fr-FR").CompareInfo
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID)
        
        ' Display the result using fr-FR Compare of Coté = coté.  	
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}", _
                          s1, s2, sign((ci.Compare(s1, s2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase) + 1)))
        
        ' Display the result using fr-FR Compare of coté > côte.
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}", _
                          s2, s3, sign((ci.Compare(s2, s3, CompareOptions.None) + 1)))
        
        ' Set sort order of strings for Japanese as spoken in Japan.
        ci = New CultureInfo("ja-JP").CompareInfo
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID)
        
        ' Display the result using ja-JP Compare of coté < côte. 
        Console.WriteLine("ja-JP Compare: {0} {2} {1}", _
                          s2, s3, sign((ci.Compare(s2, s3) + 1)))
    End Sub
End Class

' This code produces the following output.
' 
' The LCID for fr-FR is 1036.
' fr-FR Compare: Coté = coté
' fr-FR Compare: coté > côte
' The LCID for ja-JP is 1041.
' ja-JP Compare: coté < côte

Remarks

By default, the comparison is performed by using CompareOptions.None. If a security decision depends on a string comparison or a case change, you should use the InvariantCulture property to ensure that the behavior is consistent regardless of the culture settings of the operating system.

Note

When possible, you should call string comparison methods that have a parameter of type CompareOptions to specify the kind of comparison expected. As a general rule, use linguistic options (using the current culture) for comparing strings displayed in the user interface and specify Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for security comparisons.

Notes to Callers

Character sets include ignorable characters, which are characters that are not considered when performing a linguistic or culture-sensitive comparison. The Compare(String, String) method does not consider such characters when it performs a culture-sensitive comparison. For instance, a culture-sensitive comparison of "animal" with "ani-mal" (using a soft hyphen, or U+00AD) indicates that the two strings are equivalent, as the following example shows.

Imports System.Globalization

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim ci As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.CompareInfo
      Dim s1 As String = "ani" + ChrW(&h00AD) + "mal"
      Dim s2 As String = "animal"
      
      Console.WriteLine("Comparison of '{0}' and '{1}': {2}", 
                        s1, s2, ci.Compare(s1, s2))
  End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'       Comparison of 'ani-mal' and 'animal': 0

To recognize ignorable characters in a string comparison, call the Compare(String, String, CompareOptions) method and supply a value of either Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for the options parameter.

Applies to

Compare(ReadOnlySpan<Char>, ReadOnlySpan<Char>, CompareOptions)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares two read-only spans of characters.

public int Compare (ReadOnlySpan<char> string1, ReadOnlySpan<char> string2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options = System.Globalization.CompareOptions.None);

member this.Compare : ReadOnlySpan<char> * ReadOnlySpan<char> * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

Public Function Compare (string1 As ReadOnlySpan(Of Char), string2 As ReadOnlySpan(Of Char), Optional options As CompareOptions = System.Globalization.CompareOptions.None) As Integer

Parameters

string1: ReadOnlySpan<Char>

The first read-only span of characters to compare.

string2: ReadOnlySpan<Char>

The second read-only span of characters to compare.

options: CompareOptions

An optional combination of CompareOptions enumeration values to use during the comparison. The default value is None.

Returns

Int32

Zero if string1 and string2 are equal; or a negative value if string1 sorts before string2; or a positive value if string1 sorts after string2.

Exceptions

ArgumentException

options contains an unsupported combination of flags.

Applies to

Compare(String, String, CompareOptions)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares two strings using the specified CompareOptions value.

public:
 virtual int Compare(System::String ^ string1, System::String ^ string2, System::Globalization::CompareOptions options);

public:
 int Compare(System::String ^ string1, System::String ^ string2, System::Globalization::CompareOptions options);

public virtual int Compare (string string1, string string2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

public int Compare (string? string1, string? string2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

public virtual int Compare (string? string1, string? string2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

abstract member Compare : string * string * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int
override this.Compare : string * string * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

member this.Compare : string * string * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

Public Overridable Function Compare (string1 As String, string2 As String, options As CompareOptions) As Integer

Public Function Compare (string1 As String, string2 As String, options As CompareOptions) As Integer

Parameters

string1: String

The first string to compare.

string2: String

The second string to compare.

options: CompareOptions

A value that defines how string1 and string2 should be compared. options is either the enumeration value Ordinal, or a bitwise combination of one or more of the following values: IgnoreCase, IgnoreSymbols, IgnoreNonSpace, IgnoreWidth, IgnoreKanaType, and StringSort.

Returns

Int32

A 32-bit signed integer indicating the lexical relationship between the two comparands.

Value	Condition
zero	The two strings are equal.
less than zero	`string1` is less than `string2`.
greater than zero	`string1` is greater than `string2`.

Exceptions

ArgumentException

options contains an invalid CompareOptions value.

Examples

The following example compares two strings using different CompareOptions settings.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Globalization;
int main()
{
   
   // Defines the strings to compare.
   String^ myStr1 = "My Uncle Bill's clients";
   String^ myStr2 = "My uncle bills clients";
   
   // Creates a CompareInfo which uses the InvariantCulture.
   CompareInfo^ myComp = CultureInfo::InvariantCulture->CompareInfo;
   
   // Compares two strings using myComp.
   Console::WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1, myStr2 );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With None                         : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions::None ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions::Ordinal ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions::StringSort ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions::IgnoreCase ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions::IgnoreSymbols ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, myStr2, static_cast<CompareOptions>(CompareOptions::IgnoreCase | CompareOptions::IgnoreSymbols) ) );
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "My Uncle Bill's clients" and "My uncle bills clients"
   With no CompareOptions            : 1
   With None                         : 1
   With Ordinal                      : -32
   With StringSort                   : -1
   With IgnoreCase                   : 1
   With IgnoreSymbols                : 1
   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0
*/

using System;
using System.Globalization;

public class SamplesCompareInfo  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Defines the strings to compare.
      String myStr1 = "My Uncle Bill's clients";
      String myStr2 = "My uncle bills clients";

      // Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
      CompareInfo myComp = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo;

      // Compares two strings using myComp.
      Console.WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1, myStr2 );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With None                         : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.None ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.Ordinal ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.StringSort ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase | CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols ) );
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "My Uncle Bill's clients" and "My uncle bills clients"
   With no CompareOptions            : 1
   With None                         : 1
   With Ordinal                      : -32
   With StringSort                   : -1
   With IgnoreCase                   : 1
   With IgnoreSymbols                : 1
   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

*/

Imports System.Globalization

Public Class SamplesCompareInfo

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Defines the strings to compare.
      Dim myStr1 As [String] = "My Uncle Bill's clients"
      Dim myStr2 As [String] = "My uncle bills clients"

      ' Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
      Dim myComp As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo

      ' Compares two strings using myComp.
      Console.WriteLine("Comparing ""{0}"" and ""{1}""", myStr1, myStr2)
      Console.WriteLine("   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With None                         : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.None))
      Console.WriteLine("   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.Ordinal))
      Console.WriteLine("   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.StringSort))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, myStr2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase Or CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols))

   End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Comparing "My Uncle Bill's clients" and "My uncle bills clients"
'   With no CompareOptions            : 1
'   With None                         : 1
'   With Ordinal                      : -32
'   With StringSort                   : -1
'   With IgnoreCase                   : 1
'   With IgnoreSymbols                : 1
'   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

The following example demonstrates calling the Compare method.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Text;
using namespace System::Globalization;

int main()
{
    array<String^>^ sign = gcnew array<String^> { "<", "=", ">" };

    // The code below demonstrates how strings compare
    // differently for different cultures.
    String^ s1 = "Coté"; 
    String^ s2 = "coté";
    String^ s3 = "côte";

    // Set sort order of strings for French in France.
    CompareInfo^ ci = (gcnew CultureInfo("fr-FR"))->CompareInfo;
    Console::WriteLine(L"The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci->Name, ci->LCID);

    // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of Coté = coté.
    Console::WriteLine(L"fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
        s1, s2, sign[ci->Compare(s1, s2, CompareOptions::IgnoreCase) + 1]);

    // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of coté > côte.
    Console::WriteLine(L"fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
        s2, s3, sign[ci->Compare(s2, s3, CompareOptions::None) + 1]);

    // Set sort order of strings for Japanese as spoken in Japan.
    ci = (gcnew CultureInfo("ja-JP"))->CompareInfo;
    Console::WriteLine(L"The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci->Name, ci->LCID);

    // Display the result using ja-JP Compare of coté < côte.
    Console::WriteLine("ja-JP Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
        s2, s3, sign[ci->Compare(s2, s3) + 1]);
}

// This code produces the following output.
//
// The LCID for fr-FR is 1036.
// fr-FR Compare: Coté = coté
// fr-FR Compare: coté > côte
// The LCID for ja-JP is 1041.
// ja-JP Compare: coté < côte

using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Globalization;

public sealed class App
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        String[] sign = new String[] { "<", "=", ">" };

        // The code below demonstrates how strings compare
        // differently for different cultures.
        String s1 = "Coté", s2 = "coté", s3 = "côte";

        // Set sort order of strings for French in France.
        CompareInfo ci = new CultureInfo("fr-FR").CompareInfo;
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID);

        // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of Coté = coté.  	
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
            s1, s2, sign[ci.Compare(s1, s2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase) + 1]);

        // Display the result using fr-FR Compare of coté > côte.
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
            s2, s3, sign[ci.Compare(s2, s3, CompareOptions.None) + 1]);

        // Set sort order of strings for Japanese as spoken in Japan.
        ci = new CultureInfo("ja-JP").CompareInfo;
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID);

        // Display the result using ja-JP Compare of coté < côte.
        Console.WriteLine("ja-JP Compare: {0} {2} {1}",
            s2, s3, sign[ci.Compare(s2, s3) + 1]);
    }
}

// This code produces the following output.
//
// The LCID for fr-FR is 1036.
// fr-FR Compare: Coté = coté
// fr-FR Compare: coté > côte
// The LCID for ja-JP is 1041.
// ja-JP Compare: coté < côte

Imports System.Text
Imports System.Globalization

NotInheritable Public Class App
    Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String) 
        Dim sign() As String = {"<", "=", ">"}
        
        ' The code below demonstrates how strings compare 
        ' differently for different cultures.
        Dim s1 As String = "Coté"
        Dim s2 As String = "coté"
        Dim s3 As String = "côte"
        
        ' Set sort order of strings for French in France.
        Dim ci As CompareInfo = New CultureInfo("fr-FR").CompareInfo
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID)
        
        ' Display the result using fr-FR Compare of Coté = coté.  	
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}", _
                          s1, s2, sign((ci.Compare(s1, s2, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase) + 1)))
        
        ' Display the result using fr-FR Compare of coté > côte.
        Console.WriteLine("fr-FR Compare: {0} {2} {1}", _
                          s2, s3, sign((ci.Compare(s2, s3, CompareOptions.None) + 1)))
        
        ' Set sort order of strings for Japanese as spoken in Japan.
        ci = New CultureInfo("ja-JP").CompareInfo
        Console.WriteLine("The LCID for {0} is {1}.", ci.Name, ci.LCID)
        
        ' Display the result using ja-JP Compare of coté < côte. 
        Console.WriteLine("ja-JP Compare: {0} {2} {1}", _
                          s2, s3, sign((ci.Compare(s2, s3) + 1)))
    End Sub
End Class

' This code produces the following output.
' 
' The LCID for fr-FR is 1036.
' fr-FR Compare: Coté = coté
' fr-FR Compare: coté > côte
' The LCID for ja-JP is 1041.
' ja-JP Compare: coté < côte

Remarks

If a security decision depends on a string comparison or a case change, you should use the InvariantCulture property to ensure that the behavior is consistent regardless of the culture settings of the operating system.

Note

Notes to Callers

Character sets include ignorable characters, which are characters that are not considered when performing a linguistic or culture-sensitive comparison. The Compare(String, String, CompareOptions) method does not consider such characters when it performs a culture-sensitive comparison. To recognize ignorable characters in your comparison, supply a value of Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for the options parameter.

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares the end section of a string with the end section of another string.

public:
 virtual int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2);

public:
 int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2);

public virtual int Compare (string string1, int offset1, string string2, int offset2);

public int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, string? string2, int offset2);

public virtual int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, string? string2, int offset2);

abstract member Compare : string * int * string * int -> int
override this.Compare : string * int * string * int -> int

member this.Compare : string * int * string * int -> int

Public Overridable Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer) As Integer

Public Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer) As Integer

Parameters

string1: String

The first string to compare.

offset1: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string1 at which to start comparing.

string2: String

The second string to compare.

offset2: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string2 at which to start comparing.

Returns

Int32

A 32-bit signed integer indicating the lexical relationship between the two comparands.

Value	Condition
zero	The two strings are equal.
less than zero	The specified section of `string1` is less than the specified section of `string2`.
greater than zero	The specified section of `string1` is greater than the specified section of `string2`.

Exceptions

ArgumentOutOfRangeException

offset1 or offset2 is less than zero.

-or-

offset1 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string1.

-or-

offset2 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string2.

Examples

The following example compares portions of two strings using the different CompareInfo objects:

CompareInfo object associated with the Spanish (Spain) culture with international sort
CompareInfo object associated with the Spanish (Spain) culture with traditional sort
CompareInfo object associated with the InvariantCulture

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Globalization;
int main()
{
   
   // Defines the strings to compare.
   String^ myStr1 = "calle";
   String^ myStr2 = "calor";
   
   // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that 
   // uses the S"es-ES" culture with international sort.
   CompareInfo^ myCompIntl = CompareInfo::GetCompareInfo( "es-ES" );
   
   // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that 
   // uses the S"es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
   CompareInfo^ myCompTrad = CompareInfo::GetCompareInfo( 0x040A );
   
   // Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
   CompareInfo^ myCompInva = CultureInfo::InvariantCulture->CompareInfo;
   
   // Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
   Console::WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1->Substring( 2 ), myStr2->Substring( 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompIntl::Compare: {0}", myCompIntl->Compare( myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompTrad::Compare: {0}", myCompTrad->Compare( myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompInva::Compare: {0}", myCompInva->Compare( myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2 ) );
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "lle" and "lor"
   With myCompIntl::Compare: -1
   With myCompTrad::Compare: 1
   With myCompInva::Compare: -1
*/

using System;
using System.Globalization;

public class SamplesCompareInfo  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Defines the strings to compare.
      String myStr1 = "calle";
      String myStr2 = "calor";

      // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with international sort.
      CompareInfo myCompIntl = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo( "es-ES" );

      // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
      CompareInfo myCompTrad = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo( 0x040A );

      // Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
      CompareInfo myCompInva = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo;

      // Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
      Console.WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1.Substring( 2 ), myStr2.Substring( 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompIntl.Compare: {0}", myCompIntl.Compare( myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompTrad.Compare: {0}", myCompTrad.Compare( myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompInva.Compare: {0}", myCompInva.Compare( myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2 ) );
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "lle" and "lor"
   With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
   With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
   With myCompInva.Compare: -1

*/

Imports System.Globalization

Public Class SamplesCompareInfo

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Defines the strings to compare.
      Dim myStr1 As [String] = "calle"
      Dim myStr2 As [String] = "calor"

      ' Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with international sort.
      Dim myCompIntl As CompareInfo = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo("es-ES")

      ' Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
      Dim myCompTrad As CompareInfo = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo(&H40A)

      ' Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
      Dim myCompInva As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo

      ' Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
      Console.WriteLine("Comparing ""{0}"" and ""{1}""", myStr1.Substring(2), myStr2.Substring(2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompIntl.Compare: {0}", myCompIntl.Compare(myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompTrad.Compare: {0}", myCompTrad.Compare(myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompInva.Compare: {0}", myCompInva.Compare(myStr1, 2, myStr2, 2))

   End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Comparing "lle" and "lor"
'   With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
'   With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
'   With myCompInva.Compare: -1

Remarks

Note

Notes to Callers

Character sets include ignorable characters. The Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32) method does not consider these characters when it performs a linguistic or culture-sensitive comparison. To recognize ignorable characters in your comparison, call the Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32, CompareOptions) method and supply a value of Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for the options parameter.

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32, CompareOptions)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares the end section of a string with the end section of another string using the specified CompareOptions value.

public:
 virtual int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2, System::Globalization::CompareOptions options);

public:
 int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2, System::Globalization::CompareOptions options);

public virtual int Compare (string string1, int offset1, string string2, int offset2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

public int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, string? string2, int offset2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

public virtual int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, string? string2, int offset2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

abstract member Compare : string * int * string * int * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int
override this.Compare : string * int * string * int * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

member this.Compare : string * int * string * int * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

Public Overridable Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer, options As CompareOptions) As Integer

Public Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer, options As CompareOptions) As Integer

Parameters

string1: String

The first string to compare.

offset1: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string1 at which to start comparing.

string2: String

The second string to compare.

offset2: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string2 at which to start comparing.

options: CompareOptions

Returns

Int32

A 32-bit signed integer indicating the lexical relationship between the two comparands.

Value	Condition
zero	The two strings are equal.
less than zero	The specified section of `string1` is less than the specified section of `string2`.
greater than zero	The specified section of `string1` is greater than the specified section of `string2`.

Exceptions

ArgumentOutOfRangeException

offset1 or offset2 is less than zero.

-or-

offset1 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string1.

-or-

offset2 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string2.

ArgumentException

options contains an invalid CompareOptions value.

Examples

The following example compares portions of two strings using different CompareOptions settings.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Globalization;
int main()
{
   
   // Defines the strings to compare.
   String^ myStr1 = "My Uncle Bill's clients";
   String^ myStr2 = "My uncle bills clients";
   
   // Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
   CompareInfo^ myComp = CultureInfo::InvariantCulture->CompareInfo;
   
   // Compares two strings using myComp.
   Console::WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1->Substring( 10 ), myStr2->Substring( 10 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With None                         : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions::None ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions::Ordinal ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions::StringSort ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions::IgnoreCase ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions::IgnoreSymbols ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, static_cast<CompareOptions>(CompareOptions::IgnoreCase | CompareOptions::IgnoreSymbols) ) );
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "ill's clients" and "ills clients"
   With no CompareOptions            : 1
   With None                         : 1
   With Ordinal                      : -76
   With StringSort                   : -1
   With IgnoreCase                   : 1
   With IgnoreSymbols                : 0
   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0
*/

using System;
using System.Globalization;

public class SamplesCompareInfo  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Defines the strings to compare.
      String myStr1 = "My Uncle Bill's clients";
      String myStr2 = "My uncle bills clients";

      // Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
      CompareInfo myComp = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo;

      // Compares two strings using myComp.
      Console.WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1.Substring( 10 ), myStr2.Substring( 10 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With None                         : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.None ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.Ordinal ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.StringSort ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase | CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols ) );
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "ill's clients" and "ills clients"
   With no CompareOptions            : 1
   With None                         : 1
   With Ordinal                      : -76
   With StringSort                   : -1
   With IgnoreCase                   : 1
   With IgnoreSymbols                : 0
   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

*/

Imports System.Globalization

Public Class SamplesCompareInfo

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Defines the strings to compare.
      Dim myStr1 As [String] = "My Uncle Bill's clients"
      Dim myStr2 As [String] = "My uncle bills clients"

      ' Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
      Dim myComp As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo

      ' Compares two strings using myComp.
      Console.WriteLine("Comparing ""{0}"" and ""{1}""", myStr1.Substring(10), myStr2.Substring(10))
      Console.WriteLine("   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10))
      Console.WriteLine("   With None                         : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.None))
      Console.WriteLine("   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.Ordinal))
      Console.WriteLine("   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.StringSort))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 10, myStr2, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase Or CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols))

   End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Comparing "ill's clients" and "ills clients"
'   With no CompareOptions            : 1
'   With None                         : 1
'   With Ordinal                      : -76
'   With StringSort                   : -1
'   With IgnoreCase                   : 1
'   With IgnoreSymbols                : 0
'   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

Remarks

Note

Notes to Callers

Character sets include ignorable characters, which are characters that are not considered when performing a linguistic or culture-sensitive comparison. The Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32, CompareOptions) method does not consider such characters when performing a culture-sensitive comparison. To recognize ignorable characters in your comparison, supply a value of Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for the options parameter.

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares a section of one string with a section of another string.

public:
 virtual int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, int length1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2, int length2);

public:
 int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, int length1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2, int length2);

public virtual int Compare (string string1, int offset1, int length1, string string2, int offset2, int length2);

public int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, int length1, string? string2, int offset2, int length2);

public virtual int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, int length1, string? string2, int offset2, int length2);

abstract member Compare : string * int * int * string * int * int -> int
override this.Compare : string * int * int * string * int * int -> int

member this.Compare : string * int * int * string * int * int -> int

Public Overridable Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, length1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer, length2 As Integer) As Integer

Public Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, length1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer, length2 As Integer) As Integer

Parameters

string1: String

The first string to compare.

offset1: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string1 at which to start comparing.

length1: Int32

The number of consecutive characters in string1 to compare.

string2: String

The second string to compare.

offset2: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string2 at which to start comparing.

length2: Int32

The number of consecutive characters in string2 to compare.

Returns

Int32

A 32-bit signed integer indicating the lexical relationship between the two comparands.

Value	Condition
zero	The two strings are equal.
less than zero	The specified section of `string1` is less than the specified section of `string2`.
greater than zero	The specified section of `string1` is greater than the specified section of `string2`.

Exceptions

ArgumentOutOfRangeException

offset1 or length1 or offset2 or length2 is less than zero.

-or-

offset1 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string1.

-or-

offset2 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string2.

-or-

length1 is greater than the number of characters from offset1 to the end of string1.

-or-

length2 is greater than the number of characters from offset2 to the end of string2.

Examples

The following example compares portions of two strings using the different CompareInfo objects:

CompareInfo object associated with the Spanish (Spain) culture with international sort
CompareInfo object associated with the Spanish (Spain) culture with traditional sort
CompareInfo object associated with the InvariantCulture

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Globalization;
int main()
{
   
   // Defines the strings to compare.
   String^ myStr1 = "calle";
   String^ myStr2 = "calor";
   
   // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the S"es-ES" culture with international sort.
   CompareInfo^ myCompIntl = CompareInfo::GetCompareInfo( "es-ES" );
   
   // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the S"es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
   CompareInfo^ myCompTrad = CompareInfo::GetCompareInfo( 0x040A );
   
   // Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
   CompareInfo^ myCompInva = CultureInfo::InvariantCulture->CompareInfo;
   
   // Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
   Console::WriteLine( "Comparing \" {0}\" and \" {1}\"", myStr1->Substring( 2, 2 ), myStr2->Substring( 2, 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompIntl->Compare: {0}", myCompIntl->Compare( myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompTrad->Compare: {0}", myCompTrad->Compare( myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With myCompInva->Compare: {0}", myCompInva->Compare( myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2 ) );
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing S"ll" and S"lo"
With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
With myCompInva.Compare: -1

*/

using System;
using System.Globalization;

public class SamplesCompareInfo  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Defines the strings to compare.
      String myStr1 = "calle";
      String myStr2 = "calor";

      // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with international sort.
      CompareInfo myCompIntl = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo( "es-ES" );

      // Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
      CompareInfo myCompTrad = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo( 0x040A );

      // Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
      CompareInfo myCompInva = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo;

      // Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
      Console.WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1.Substring( 2, 2 ), myStr2.Substring( 2, 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompIntl.Compare: {0}", myCompIntl.Compare( myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompTrad.Compare: {0}", myCompTrad.Compare( myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With myCompInva.Compare: {0}", myCompInva.Compare( myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2 ) );
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "ll" and "lo"
   With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
   With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
   With myCompInva.Compare: -1

*/

Imports System.Globalization

Public Class SamplesCompareInfo

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Defines the strings to compare.
      Dim myStr1 As [String] = "calle"
      Dim myStr2 As [String] = "calor"

      ' Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with international sort.
      Dim myCompIntl As CompareInfo = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo("es-ES")

      ' Uses GetCompareInfo to create the CompareInfo that uses the "es-ES" culture with traditional sort.
      Dim myCompTrad As CompareInfo = CompareInfo.GetCompareInfo(&H40A)

      ' Uses the CompareInfo property of the InvariantCulture.
      Dim myCompInva As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo

      ' Compares two strings using myCompIntl.
      Console.WriteLine("Comparing ""{0}"" and ""{1}""", myStr1.Substring(2, 2), myStr2.Substring(2, 2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompIntl.Compare: {0}", myCompIntl.Compare(myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompTrad.Compare: {0}", myCompTrad.Compare(myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2))
      Console.WriteLine("   With myCompInva.Compare: {0}", myCompInva.Compare(myStr1, 2, 2, myStr2, 2, 2))

   End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Comparing "ll" and "lo"
'   With myCompIntl.Compare: -1
'   With myCompTrad.Compare: 1
'   With myCompInva.Compare: -1

Remarks

Note

When possible, you should use string comparison methods that have a parameter of type CompareOptions to specify the kind of comparison expected. As a general rule, use linguistic options (using the current culture) for comparing strings displayed in the user interface and specify Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for security comparisons.

Notes to Callers

Character sets include ignorable characters. The Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32) method does not consider these characters when it performs a linguistic or culture-sensitive comparison. To recognize ignorable characters in your comparison, call the Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32, CompareOptions) method and supply a value of Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for the options parameter.

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32, CompareOptions)

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Source:: CompareInfo.cs

Compares a section of one string with a section of another string using the specified CompareOptions value.

public:
 virtual int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, int length1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2, int length2, System::Globalization::CompareOptions options);

public:
 int Compare(System::String ^ string1, int offset1, int length1, System::String ^ string2, int offset2, int length2, System::Globalization::CompareOptions options);

public virtual int Compare (string string1, int offset1, int length1, string string2, int offset2, int length2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

public int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, int length1, string? string2, int offset2, int length2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

public virtual int Compare (string? string1, int offset1, int length1, string? string2, int offset2, int length2, System.Globalization.CompareOptions options);

abstract member Compare : string * int * int * string * int * int * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int
override this.Compare : string * int * int * string * int * int * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

member this.Compare : string * int * int * string * int * int * System.Globalization.CompareOptions -> int

Public Overridable Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, length1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer, length2 As Integer, options As CompareOptions) As Integer

Public Function Compare (string1 As String, offset1 As Integer, length1 As Integer, string2 As String, offset2 As Integer, length2 As Integer, options As CompareOptions) As Integer

Parameters

string1: String

The first string to compare.

offset1: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string1 at which to start comparing.

length1: Int32

The number of consecutive characters in string1 to compare.

string2: String

The second string to compare.

offset2: Int32

The zero-based index of the character in string2 at which to start comparing.

length2: Int32

The number of consecutive characters in string2 to compare.

options: CompareOptions

Returns

Int32

A 32-bit signed integer indicating the lexical relationship between the two comparands.

Value	Condition
zero	The two strings are equal.
less than zero	The specified section of `string1` is less than the specified section of `string2`.
greater than zero	The specified section of `string1` is greater than the specified section of `string2`.

Exceptions

ArgumentOutOfRangeException

offset1 or length1 or offset2 or length2 is less than zero.

-or-

offset1 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string1.

-or-

offset2 is greater than or equal to the number of characters in string2.

-or-

length1 is greater than the number of characters from offset1 to the end of string1.

-or-

length2 is greater than the number of characters from offset2 to the end of string2.

ArgumentException

options contains an invalid CompareOptions value.

Examples

The following example compares portions of two strings using different CompareOptions settings.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Globalization;
int main()
{
   
   // Defines the strings to compare.
   String^ myStr1 = "My Uncle Bill's clients";
   String^ myStr2 = "My uncle bills clients";
   
   // Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
   CompareInfo^ myComp = CultureInfo::InvariantCulture->CompareInfo;
   
   // Compares two strings using myComp.
   Console::WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1->Substring( 3, 10 ), myStr2->Substring( 3, 10 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With None                         : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions::None ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions::Ordinal ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions::StringSort ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions::IgnoreCase ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions::IgnoreSymbols ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp->Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, static_cast<CompareOptions>(CompareOptions::IgnoreCase | CompareOptions::IgnoreSymbols) ) );
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "Uncle Bill" and "uncle bill"
   With no CompareOptions            : 1
   With None                         : 1
   With Ordinal                      : -32
   With StringSort                   : 1
   With IgnoreCase                   : 0
   With IgnoreSymbols                : 1
   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

*/

using System;
using System.Globalization;

public class SamplesCompareInfo  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Defines the strings to compare.
      String myStr1 = "My Uncle Bill's clients";
      String myStr2 = "My uncle bills clients";

      // Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
      CompareInfo myComp = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo;

      // Compares two strings using myComp.
      Console.WriteLine( "Comparing \"{0}\" and \"{1}\"", myStr1.Substring( 3, 10 ), myStr2.Substring( 3, 10 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With None                         : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.None ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.Ordinal ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.StringSort ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp.Compare( myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase | CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols ) );
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Comparing "Uncle Bill" and "uncle bill"
   With no CompareOptions            : 1
   With None                         : 1
   With Ordinal                      : -32
   With StringSort                   : 1
   With IgnoreCase                   : 0
   With IgnoreSymbols                : 1
   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

*/

Imports System.Globalization

Public Class SamplesCompareInfo

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Defines the strings to compare.
      Dim myStr1 As [String] = "My Uncle Bill's clients"
      Dim myStr2 As [String] = "My uncle bills clients"

      ' Creates a CompareInfo that uses the InvariantCulture.
      Dim myComp As CompareInfo = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.CompareInfo

      ' Compares two strings using myComp.
      Console.WriteLine("Comparing ""{0}"" and ""{1}""", myStr1.Substring(3, 10), myStr2.Substring(3, 10))
      Console.WriteLine("   With no CompareOptions            : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10))
      Console.WriteLine("   With None                         : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.None))
      Console.WriteLine("   With Ordinal                      : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.Ordinal))
      Console.WriteLine("   With StringSort                   : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.StringSort))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreCase                   : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreSymbols                : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols))
      Console.WriteLine("   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : {0}", myComp.Compare(myStr1, 3, 10, myStr2, 3, 10, CompareOptions.IgnoreCase Or CompareOptions.IgnoreSymbols))

   End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Comparing "Uncle Bill" and "uncle bill"
'   With no CompareOptions            : 1
'   With None                         : 1
'   With Ordinal                      : -32
'   With StringSort                   : 1
'   With IgnoreCase                   : 0
'   With IgnoreSymbols                : 1
'   With IgnoreCase and IgnoreSymbols : 0

Remarks

Note

Notes to Callers

Character sets include ignorable characters. The Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32, CompareOptions) method does not consider these characters when it performs a culture-sensitive comparison. To recognize ignorable characters in your comparison, supply a value of Ordinal or OrdinalIgnoreCase for the options parameter.

Applies to

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CompareInfo.Compare Method

Definition

Overloads

Compare(String, String)

Parameters

Returns

Examples

Remarks

Notes to Callers

Applies to

Compare(ReadOnlySpan<Char>, ReadOnlySpan<Char>, CompareOptions)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Applies to

Compare(String, String, CompareOptions)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

Notes to Callers

See also

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

Notes to Callers

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, String, Int32, CompareOptions)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

Notes to Callers

See also

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

Notes to Callers

Applies to

Compare(String, Int32, Int32, String, Int32, Int32, CompareOptions)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

Notes to Callers

See also

Applies to

Additional resources