List an Array of Strings in alphabetical order

Question

I have a program which has the user inputs a list of names. I have a switch case going to a function which I would like to have the names print off in alphabetical order.

Answer 1

By alphabetical-order I assume the order to be : A|a < B|b < C|c... Hope this is what @Nick is(or was) looking for and the answer follows the above assumption.

I would suggest to have a class implement compare method of Comparator-interface as :

public int compare(Object o1, Object o2) {
    return o1.toString().compareToIgnoreCase(o2.toString());
}

and from the calling method invoke the Arrays.sort method with custom Comparator as :

Arrays.sort(inputArray, customComparator);

Observed results: input Array : "Vani","Kali", "Mohan","Soni","kuldeep","Arun"

output(Alphabetical-order) is : Arun, Kali, kuldeep, Mohan, Soni, Vani

Output(Natural-order by executing Arrays.sort(inputArray) is : Arun, Kali, Mohan, Soni, Vani, kuldeep

Thus in case of natural ordering, [Vani < kuldeep] which to my understanding of alphabetical-order is not the thing desired.

for more understanding of natural and alphabetical/lexical order visit discussion here