PHP: String comparisons using a "natural order" algorithm

Description

int strnatcmp ( string $str1 , string $str2 )

This function implements a comparison algorithm that orders alphanumeric strings in the way a human being would, this is described as a "natural ordering". Note that this comparison is case sensitive.

Parameters

str1: The first string.
str2: The second string.

Return Values

Similar to other string comparison functions, this one returns < 0 if str1 is less than str2 ; > 0 if str1 is greater than str2 , and 0 if they are equal.

Examples

An example of the difference between this algorithm and the regular computer string sorting algorithms (used in strcmp()) can be seen below:


<?php

$arr1 = $arr2 = array("img12.png", "img10.png", "img2.png", "img1.png");

echo "Standard string comparison\n";

usort($arr1, "strcmp");

print_r($arr1);

echo "\nNatural order string comparison\n";

usort($arr2, "strnatcmp");

print_r($arr2);

?>

The above example will output:

Standard string comparison
Array
(
    [0] => img1.png
    [1] => img10.png
    [2] => img12.png
    [3] => img2.png
)

Natural order string comparison
Array
(
    [0] => img1.png
    [1] => img2.png
    [2] => img10.png
    [3] => img12.png
)

For more information see: Martin Pool's » Natural Order String Comparison page.

strnatcmp

Description

Parameters

Return Values

Examples

See Also