Comparing Two Strings in Dictionary Order in Java Programming

We can use the following methods in Java to compare two strings in dictionary order.

• Use the String.compareTo(String) method. It compares in a case-sensitive manner.

• Use the String.compareToIgnoreCase(String) method. It compares in a case-insensitive manner.

• Use the String.compareTo(Object) method. It compares in a case-sensitive manner.

These methods return the ASCII difference of the first odd character of the compared strings.

Example

public class Tester {
　　　public static void main(String args[]) {
　　　　　　String str = "Hello World";
　　　　　　String anotherString = "hello world";
　　　　　　Object objStr = str;
　　　　　　System.out.println(str.compareTo(anotherString));
　　　　　　System.out.println(str.compareToIgnoreCase(anotherString));
　　　　　　System.out.println(str.compareTo(objStr.toString()));
　　　{}
{}

Output Result

-32
0
0