StringComparison Enum

Definition

Namespace:

System

Assembly:

System.Runtime.dll

Specifies the culture, case, and sort rules to be used by certain overloads of the Compare(String, String) and Equals(Object) methods.

public enum class StringComparison

public enum StringComparison

type StringComparison = 

Public Enum StringComparison

Inheritance

Object

ValueType

Enum

StringComparison

Fields

Name	Value	Description
CurrentCulture	0	Compare strings using culture-sensitive sort rules and the current culture.
CurrentCultureIgnoreCase	1	Compare strings using culture-sensitive sort rules, the current culture, and ignoring the case of the strings being compared.
InvariantCulture	2	Compare strings using culture-sensitive sort rules and the invariant culture.
InvariantCultureIgnoreCase	3	Compare strings using culture-sensitive sort rules, the invariant culture, and ignoring the case of the strings being compared.
Ordinal	4	Compare strings using ordinal (binary) sort rules.
OrdinalIgnoreCase	5	Compare strings using ordinal (binary) sort rules and ignoring the case of the strings being compared.

Examples

The following example compares three sets of strings by using each member of the StringComparison enumeration. The comparisons use the conventions of the English (United States), Thai (Thailand), and Turkish (Turkey) cultures. Note that the strings "a" and "a-" are considered equivalent in the "th-TH" culture but not in the others, while "i" and "İ" are considered equivalent in the "tr-TR" culture when case is ignored but not in the other cultures.

using System;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Threading;

public class Example3
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        String[] cultureNames = { "en-US", "th-TH", "tr-TR" };
        String[] strings1 = { "a", "i", "case", };
        String[] strings2 = { "a-", "\u0130", "Case" };
        StringComparison[] comparisons = (StringComparison[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(StringComparison));

        foreach (var cultureName in cultureNames)
        {
            Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(cultureName);
            Console.WriteLine("Current Culture: {0}", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Name);
            for (int ctr = 0; ctr <= strings1.GetUpperBound(0); ctr++)
            {
                foreach (var comparison in comparisons)
                    Console.WriteLine("   {0} = {1} ({2}): {3}", strings1[ctr],
                                      strings2[ctr], comparison,
                                      String.Equals(strings1[ctr], strings2[ctr], comparison));

                Console.WriteLine();
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
    }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//    Current Culture: en-US
//       a = a- (CurrentCulture): False
//       a = a- (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       a = a- (InvariantCulture): False
//       a = a- (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       a = a- (Ordinal): False
//       a = a- (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//
//       i = İ (CurrentCulture): False
//       i = İ (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       i = İ (InvariantCulture): False
//       i = İ (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       i = İ (Ordinal): False
//       i = İ (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//
//       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
//       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
//       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (Ordinal): False
//       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
//
//
//    Current Culture: th-TH
//       a = a- (CurrentCulture): True
//       a = a- (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       a = a- (InvariantCulture): False
//       a = a- (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       a = a- (Ordinal): False
//       a = a- (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//
//       i = İ (CurrentCulture): False
//       i = İ (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       i = İ (InvariantCulture): False
//       i = İ (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       i = İ (Ordinal): False
//       i = İ (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//
//       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
//       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
//       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (Ordinal): False
//       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
//
//
//    Current Culture: tr-TR
//       a = a- (CurrentCulture): False
//       a = a- (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       a = a- (InvariantCulture): False
//       a = a- (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       a = a- (Ordinal): False
//       a = a- (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//
//       i = İ (CurrentCulture): False
//       i = İ (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       i = İ (InvariantCulture): False
//       i = İ (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       i = İ (Ordinal): False
//       i = İ (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//
//       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
//       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
//       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (Ordinal): False
//       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True

open System
open System.Globalization
open System.Threading

let cultureNames = 
    [| "en-US"; "se-SE" |]
let strings1 = 
    [| "case"; "encyclopædia" 
       "encyclopædia"; "Archæology" |]
let strings2 = 
    [| "Case"; "encyclopaedia" 
       "encyclopedia"; "ARCHÆOLOGY" |]
let comparisons = 
    Enum.GetValues typeof<StringComparison> :?> StringComparison[]

for cultureName in cultureNames do
    Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture <- CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture cultureName
    printfn $"Current Culture: {CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Name}"
    for i = 0 to strings1.GetUpperBound 0 do
        for comparison in comparisons do
            printfn $"   {strings1[i]} = {strings2[i]} ({comparison}): {String.Equals(strings1[i], strings2[i], comparison)}"
        printfn ""         
    printfn ""
// The example displays the following output:
//    Current Culture: en-US
//       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
//       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
//       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (Ordinal): False
//       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
//    
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCulture): True
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCulture): True
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (Ordinal): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//    
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCulture): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCulture): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (Ordinal): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//    
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCulture): False
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCulture): False
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (Ordinal): False
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
//    
//    
//    Current Culture: se-SE
//       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
//       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
//       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       case = Case (Ordinal): False
//       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
//    
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCulture): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCulture): True
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (Ordinal): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//    
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCulture): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCulture): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (Ordinal): False
//       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
//    
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCulture): False
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCulture): False
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (Ordinal): False
//       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True

Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Threading

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim cultureNames() As String = { "en-US", "se-SE" }
      Dim strings1() As String = { "case",  "encyclopædia",  
                                   "encyclopædia", "Archæology" }
      Dim strings2() As String = { "Case", "encyclopaedia", 
                                   "encyclopedia" , "ARCHÆOLOGY" }
      Dim comparisons() As StringComparison = CType([Enum].GetValues(GetType(StringComparison)),
                                           StringComparison())
      
      For Each cultureName In cultureNames
         Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(cultureName)
         Console.WriteLine("Current Culture: {0}", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Name)
         For ctr As Integer = 0 To strings1.GetUpperBound(0)
            For Each comparison In comparisons
               Console.WriteLine("   {0} = {1} ({2}): {3}", strings1(ctr),
                                 strings2(ctr), comparison, 
                                 String.Equals(strings1(ctr), strings2(ctr), comparison))
            Next
            Console.WriteLine()         
         Next
         Console.WriteLine()
      Next
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'    Current Culture: en-US
'       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
'       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
'       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       case = Case (Ordinal): False
'       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
'    
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCulture): True
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCulture): True
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (Ordinal): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
'    
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCulture): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCulture): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (Ordinal): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
'    
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCulture): False
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCulture): False
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (Ordinal): False
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
'    
'    
'    Current Culture: se-SE
'       case = Case (CurrentCulture): False
'       case = Case (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       case = Case (InvariantCulture): False
'       case = Case (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       case = Case (Ordinal): False
'       case = Case (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True
'    
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCulture): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCulture): True
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (Ordinal): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopaedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
'    
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCulture): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCulture): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (Ordinal): False
'       encyclopædia = encyclopedia (OrdinalIgnoreCase): False
'    
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCulture): False
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCulture): False
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase): True
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (Ordinal): False
'       Archæology = ARCHÆOLOGY (OrdinalIgnoreCase): True

Remarks

The StringComparison enumeration is used to specify whether a string comparison should use the current culture or the invariant culture, word or ordinal sort rules, and be case-sensitive or case-insensitive.

Important

When you call a string comparison method such as String.Compare, String.Equals, or String.IndexOf, you should always call an overload that includes a parameter of type StringComparison so that you can specify the type of comparison that the method performs. For more information, see Best Practices for Using Strings.

An operation that uses word sort rules performs a culture-sensitive comparison wherein certain nonalphanumeric Unicode characters might have special weights assigned to them. Using word sort rules and the conventions of a specific culture, the hyphen ("-") might have a very small weight assigned to it so that "coop" and "co-op" appear next to each other in a sorted list.

Note

.NET Core running on Linux and macOS systems only: The collation behavior for the C and Posix cultures is always case-sensitive because these cultures do not use the expected Unicode collation order. We recommend that you use a culture other than C or Posix for performing culture-sensitive, case-insensitive sorting operations.

An operation that uses ordinal sort rules performs a comparison based on the numeric value (Unicode code point) of each Char in the string. An ordinal comparison is fast but culture-insensitive. When you use ordinal sort rules to sort strings that start with Unicode characters (U+), the string U+xxxx comes before the string U+yyyy if the value of xxxx is numerically less than yyyy.

For more information about comparisons, see the System.String class remarks. For more information about culture, see the System.Globalization.CultureInfo class remarks. For guidelines on when to use ordinal or culture-sensitive comparison rules or the rules of the invariant culture, see Best Practices for Using Strings. For a set of text files that contain information on the character weights used in sorting and comparison operations for Windows operating systems, see Sorting Weight Tables. For the sort weight table for Linux and macOS, see the Default Unicode Collation Element Table.

See also

• String
• Compare(String, String)
• Compare(String, String)
• CompareOrdinal(String, String)
• InvariantCulture