.NET 10 C#: Numerical string comparison
Authorised Territory demonstrates how to order a list of strings numerically instead of lexicographically in .NET 10 using C#.
Full summary based on transcript
What the video covers
- How default string sorting compares values lexicographically (character-by-character), which can produce unexpected ordering for strings that represent numbers.
- How to implement a numerical comparison approach so values like “2” sort before “10”.
Practical approach (high level)
- Treat the strings as numeric values during comparison (when possible).
- Use a custom comparer (or equivalent sorting logic) when ordering the list so the comparison uses numeric semantics rather than plain string semantics.
When this is useful
- Sorting filenames, identifiers, or user-entered values that are stored as strings but represent numbers.
- Any UI list or report where users expect numeric ordering.