StringComparison Enum

Definition

Namespace:: System

Assemblies:: mscorlib.dll, System.Runtime.dll

Assemblies:: netstandard.dll, System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Source:: StringComparison.cs

Source:: StringComparison.cs

Source:: Debugger.cs

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.

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

[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)]
[System.Serializable]
public enum StringComparison

type StringComparison =

[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)>]
[<System.Serializable>]
type StringComparison =

Public Enum StringComparison

Inheritance: Object

ValueType

Enum
StringComparison

Attributes: ComVisibleAttribute SerializableAttribute

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 (Türkiye) 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,