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alphabetically

Definition

When we say something is sorted alphabetically, it means arranging items (in this case strings) in an order that follows the sequence of letters in the alphabet from A to Z. It involves comparing each character in the strings, starting from the leftmost position, to determine their order.

Analogy

Sorting strings alphabetically is like organizing a stack of books on a shelf based on their titles. You compare the first letter of each book title and arrange them accordingly, creating an orderly display just as you would do when arranging words in alphabetical order.

Related terms

Lexicographic order: It refers to sorting items (strings) based on their dictionary-like ordering using alphabetical sequences.

ASCII values: ASCII values are numeric representations assigned to characters. When comparing strings alphabetically, these values are used to determine the relative positions of characters.

Sorting algorithm: A sorting algorithm is a step-by-step procedure used to arrange items (strings) into a specific order. Various algorithms exist for sorting data efficiently, including those for alphabetizing strings.