/*
 * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
 * contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
 * this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
 * The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
 * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
 * the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
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package org.apache.commons.lang3;

Operations on char primitives and Character objects.

This class tries to handle null input gracefully. An exception will not be thrown for a null input. Each method documents its behavior in more detail.

#ThreadSafe#

Since:2.1
/** * <p>Operations on char primitives and Character objects.</p> * * <p>This class tries to handle {@code null} input gracefully. * An exception will not be thrown for a {@code null} input. * Each method documents its behavior in more detail.</p> * * <p>#ThreadSafe#</p> * @since 2.1 */
public class CharUtils { private static final String[] CHAR_STRING_ARRAY = new String[128]; private static final char[] HEX_DIGITS = {'0', '1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f'};
Linefeed character LF ('\n', Unicode 000a).
See Also:
Since:2.2
/** * Linefeed character LF ({@code '\n'}, Unicode 000a). * * @see <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-3.html#jls-3.10.6">JLF: Escape Sequences * for Character and String Literals</a> * @since 2.2 */
public static final char LF = '\n';
Carriage return characterf CR ('\r', Unicode 000d).
See Also:
Since:2.2
/** * Carriage return characterf CR ('\r', Unicode 000d). * * @see <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-3.html#jls-3.10.6">JLF: Escape Sequences * for Character and String Literals</a> * @since 2.2 */
public static final char CR = '\r';
\u0000 null control character ('\0'), abbreviated NUL.
Since:3.6
/** * {@code \u0000} null control character ('\0'), abbreviated NUL. * * @since 3.6 */
public static final char NUL = '\0'; static { for (char c = 0; c < CHAR_STRING_ARRAY.length; c++) { CHAR_STRING_ARRAY[c] = String.valueOf(c); } }

CharUtils instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming. Instead, the class should be used as CharUtils.toString('c');.

This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance to operate.

/** * <p>{@code CharUtils} instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming. * Instead, the class should be used as {@code CharUtils.toString('c');}.</p> * * <p>This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance * to operate.</p> */
public CharUtils() { super(); } //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Converts the character to a Character.

For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the same Character object each time.

  CharUtils.toCharacterObject(' ')  = ' '
  CharUtils.toCharacterObject('A')  = 'A'
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
Deprecated:Java 5 introduced Character.valueOf(char) which caches chars 0 through 127.
Returns:a Character of the specified character
/** * <p>Converts the character to a Character.</p> * * <p>For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the * same Character object each time.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toCharacterObject(' ') = ' ' * CharUtils.toCharacterObject('A') = 'A' * </pre> * * @deprecated Java 5 introduced {@link Character#valueOf(char)} which caches chars 0 through 127. * @param ch the character to convert * @return a Character of the specified character */
@Deprecated public static Character toCharacterObject(final char ch) { return Character.valueOf(ch); }

Converts the String to a Character using the first character, returning null for empty Strings.

For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the same Character object each time.

  CharUtils.toCharacterObject(null) = null
  CharUtils.toCharacterObject("")   = null
  CharUtils.toCharacterObject("A")  = 'A'
  CharUtils.toCharacterObject("BA") = 'B'
Params:
  • str – the character to convert
Returns:the Character value of the first letter of the String
/** * <p>Converts the String to a Character using the first character, returning * null for empty Strings.</p> * * <p>For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the * same Character object each time.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toCharacterObject(null) = null * CharUtils.toCharacterObject("") = null * CharUtils.toCharacterObject("A") = 'A' * CharUtils.toCharacterObject("BA") = 'B' * </pre> * * @param str the character to convert * @return the Character value of the first letter of the String */
public static Character toCharacterObject(final String str) { if (StringUtils.isEmpty(str)) { return null; } return Character.valueOf(str.charAt(0)); } //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Converts the Character to a char throwing an exception for null.

  CharUtils.toChar(' ')  = ' '
  CharUtils.toChar('A')  = 'A'
  CharUtils.toChar(null) throws IllegalArgumentException
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
Throws:
Returns:the char value of the Character
/** * <p>Converts the Character to a char throwing an exception for {@code null}.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toChar(' ') = ' ' * CharUtils.toChar('A') = 'A' * CharUtils.toChar(null) throws IllegalArgumentException * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @return the char value of the Character * @throws NullPointerException if the Character is null */
public static char toChar(final Character ch) { Validate.notNull(ch, "The Character must not be null"); return ch.charValue(); }

Converts the Character to a char handling null.

  CharUtils.toChar(null, 'X') = 'X'
  CharUtils.toChar(' ', 'X')  = ' '
  CharUtils.toChar('A', 'X')  = 'A'
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
  • defaultValue – the value to use if the Character is null
Returns:the char value of the Character or the default if null
/** * <p>Converts the Character to a char handling {@code null}.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toChar(null, 'X') = 'X' * CharUtils.toChar(' ', 'X') = ' ' * CharUtils.toChar('A', 'X') = 'A' * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @param defaultValue the value to use if the Character is null * @return the char value of the Character or the default if null */
public static char toChar(final Character ch, final char defaultValue) { if (ch == null) { return defaultValue; } return ch.charValue(); } //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Converts the String to a char using the first character, throwing an exception on empty Strings.

  CharUtils.toChar("A")  = 'A'
  CharUtils.toChar("BA") = 'B'
  CharUtils.toChar(null) throws IllegalArgumentException
  CharUtils.toChar("")   throws IllegalArgumentException
Params:
  • str – the character to convert
Throws:
Returns:the char value of the first letter of the String
/** * <p>Converts the String to a char using the first character, throwing * an exception on empty Strings.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toChar("A") = 'A' * CharUtils.toChar("BA") = 'B' * CharUtils.toChar(null) throws IllegalArgumentException * CharUtils.toChar("") throws IllegalArgumentException * </pre> * * @param str the character to convert * @return the char value of the first letter of the String * @throws NullPointerException if the string is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the String is empty */
public static char toChar(final String str) { Validate.notEmpty(str, "The String must not be empty"); return str.charAt(0); }

Converts the String to a char using the first character, defaulting the value on empty Strings.

  CharUtils.toChar(null, 'X') = 'X'
  CharUtils.toChar("", 'X')   = 'X'
  CharUtils.toChar("A", 'X')  = 'A'
  CharUtils.toChar("BA", 'X') = 'B'
Params:
  • str – the character to convert
  • defaultValue – the value to use if the Character is null
Returns:the char value of the first letter of the String or the default if null
/** * <p>Converts the String to a char using the first character, defaulting * the value on empty Strings.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toChar(null, 'X') = 'X' * CharUtils.toChar("", 'X') = 'X' * CharUtils.toChar("A", 'X') = 'A' * CharUtils.toChar("BA", 'X') = 'B' * </pre> * * @param str the character to convert * @param defaultValue the value to use if the Character is null * @return the char value of the first letter of the String or the default if null */
public static char toChar(final String str, final char defaultValue) { if (StringUtils.isEmpty(str)) { return defaultValue; } return str.charAt(0); } //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an exception if the character is not numeric.

This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.

  CharUtils.toIntValue('3')  = 3
  CharUtils.toIntValue('A')  throws IllegalArgumentException
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
Throws:
Returns:the int value of the character
/** * <p>Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an * exception if the character is not numeric.</p> * * <p>This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toIntValue('3') = 3 * CharUtils.toIntValue('A') throws IllegalArgumentException * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @return the int value of the character * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the character is not ASCII numeric */
public static int toIntValue(final char ch) { if (!isAsciiNumeric(ch)) { throw new IllegalArgumentException("The character " + ch + " is not in the range '0' - '9'"); } return ch - 48; }

Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an exception if the character is not numeric.

This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.

  CharUtils.toIntValue('3', -1)  = 3
  CharUtils.toIntValue('A', -1)  = -1
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
  • defaultValue – the default value to use if the character is not numeric
Returns:the int value of the character
/** * <p>Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an * exception if the character is not numeric.</p> * * <p>This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toIntValue('3', -1) = 3 * CharUtils.toIntValue('A', -1) = -1 * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @param defaultValue the default value to use if the character is not numeric * @return the int value of the character */
public static int toIntValue(final char ch, final int defaultValue) { if (!isAsciiNumeric(ch)) { return defaultValue; } return ch - 48; }

Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an exception if the character is not numeric.

This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.

  CharUtils.toIntValue('3')  = 3
  CharUtils.toIntValue(null) throws IllegalArgumentException
  CharUtils.toIntValue('A')  throws IllegalArgumentException
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert, not null
Throws:
Returns:the int value of the character
/** * <p>Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an * exception if the character is not numeric.</p> * * <p>This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toIntValue('3') = 3 * CharUtils.toIntValue(null) throws IllegalArgumentException * CharUtils.toIntValue('A') throws IllegalArgumentException * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert, not null * @return the int value of the character * @throws NullPointerException if the Character is null * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the Character is not ASCII numeric */
public static int toIntValue(final Character ch) { Validate.notNull(ch, "The character must not be null"); return toIntValue(ch.charValue()); }

Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an exception if the character is not numeric.

This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.

  CharUtils.toIntValue(null, -1) = -1
  CharUtils.toIntValue('3', -1)  = 3
  CharUtils.toIntValue('A', -1)  = -1
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
  • defaultValue – the default value to use if the character is not numeric
Returns:the int value of the character
/** * <p>Converts the character to the Integer it represents, throwing an * exception if the character is not numeric.</p> * * <p>This method converts the char '1' to the int 1 and so on.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toIntValue(null, -1) = -1 * CharUtils.toIntValue('3', -1) = 3 * CharUtils.toIntValue('A', -1) = -1 * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @param defaultValue the default value to use if the character is not numeric * @return the int value of the character */
public static int toIntValue(final Character ch, final int defaultValue) { if (ch == null) { return defaultValue; } return toIntValue(ch.charValue(), defaultValue); } //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Converts the character to a String that contains the one character.

For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the same String object each time.

  CharUtils.toString(' ')  = " "
  CharUtils.toString('A')  = "A"
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
Returns:a String containing the one specified character
/** * <p>Converts the character to a String that contains the one character.</p> * * <p>For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the * same String object each time.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toString(' ') = " " * CharUtils.toString('A') = "A" * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @return a String containing the one specified character */
public static String toString(final char ch) { if (ch < 128) { return CHAR_STRING_ARRAY[ch]; } return new String(new char[] {ch}); }

Converts the character to a String that contains the one character.

For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the same String object each time.

If null is passed in, null will be returned.

  CharUtils.toString(null) = null
  CharUtils.toString(' ')  = " "
  CharUtils.toString('A')  = "A"
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
Returns:a String containing the one specified character
/** * <p>Converts the character to a String that contains the one character.</p> * * <p>For ASCII 7 bit characters, this uses a cache that will return the * same String object each time.</p> * * <p>If {@code null} is passed in, {@code null} will be returned.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.toString(null) = null * CharUtils.toString(' ') = " " * CharUtils.toString('A') = "A" * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @return a String containing the one specified character */
public static String toString(final Character ch) { if (ch == null) { return null; } return toString(ch.charValue()); } //--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Converts the string to the Unicode format '\u0020'.

This format is the Java source code format.

  CharUtils.unicodeEscaped(' ') = "\u0020"
  CharUtils.unicodeEscaped('A') = "\u0041"
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert
Returns:the escaped Unicode string
/** * <p>Converts the string to the Unicode format '\u0020'.</p> * * <p>This format is the Java source code format.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.unicodeEscaped(' ') = "\u0020" * CharUtils.unicodeEscaped('A') = "\u0041" * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert * @return the escaped Unicode string */
public static String unicodeEscaped(final char ch) { return "\\u" + HEX_DIGITS[(ch >> 12) & 15] + HEX_DIGITS[(ch >> 8) & 15] + HEX_DIGITS[(ch >> 4) & 15] + HEX_DIGITS[(ch) & 15]; }

Converts the string to the Unicode format '\u0020'.

This format is the Java source code format.

If null is passed in, null will be returned.

  CharUtils.unicodeEscaped(null) = null
  CharUtils.unicodeEscaped(' ')  = "\u0020"
  CharUtils.unicodeEscaped('A')  = "\u0041"
Params:
  • ch – the character to convert, may be null
Returns:the escaped Unicode string, null if null input
/** * <p>Converts the string to the Unicode format '\u0020'.</p> * * <p>This format is the Java source code format.</p> * * <p>If {@code null} is passed in, {@code null} will be returned.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.unicodeEscaped(null) = null * CharUtils.unicodeEscaped(' ') = "\u0020" * CharUtils.unicodeEscaped('A') = "\u0041" * </pre> * * @param ch the character to convert, may be null * @return the escaped Unicode string, null if null input */
public static String unicodeEscaped(final Character ch) { if (ch == null) { return null; } return unicodeEscaped(ch.charValue()); } //--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit.

  CharUtils.isAscii('a')  = true
  CharUtils.isAscii('A')  = true
  CharUtils.isAscii('3')  = true
  CharUtils.isAscii('-')  = true
  CharUtils.isAscii('\n') = true
  CharUtils.isAscii('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if less than 128
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAscii('a') = true * CharUtils.isAscii('A') = true * CharUtils.isAscii('3') = true * CharUtils.isAscii('-') = true * CharUtils.isAscii('\n') = true * CharUtils.isAscii('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if less than 128 */
public static boolean isAscii(final char ch) { return ch < 128; }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit printable.

  CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('a')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('A')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('3')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('-')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('\n') = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if between 32 and 126 inclusive
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit printable.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('a') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('A') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('3') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('-') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('\n') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiPrintable('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if between 32 and 126 inclusive */
public static boolean isAsciiPrintable(final char ch) { return ch >= 32 && ch < 127; }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit control.

  CharUtils.isAsciiControl('a')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiControl('A')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiControl('3')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiControl('-')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiControl('\n') = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiControl('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if less than 32 or equals 127
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit control.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiControl('a') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiControl('A') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiControl('3') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiControl('-') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiControl('\n') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiControl('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if less than 32 or equals 127 */
public static boolean isAsciiControl(final char ch) { return ch < 32 || ch == 127; }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit alphabetic.

  CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('a')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('A')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('3')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('-')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('\n') = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if between 65 and 90 or 97 and 122 inclusive
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit alphabetic.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('a') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('A') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('3') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('-') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('\n') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlpha('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if between 65 and 90 or 97 and 122 inclusive */
public static boolean isAsciiAlpha(final char ch) { return isAsciiAlphaUpper(ch) || isAsciiAlphaLower(ch); }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit alphabetic upper case.

  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('a')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('A')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('3')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('-')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('\n') = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if between 65 and 90 inclusive
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit alphabetic upper case.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('a') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('A') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('3') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('-') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('\n') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaUpper('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if between 65 and 90 inclusive */
public static boolean isAsciiAlphaUpper(final char ch) { return ch >= 'A' && ch <= 'Z'; }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit alphabetic lower case.

  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('a')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('A')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('3')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('-')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('\n') = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if between 97 and 122 inclusive
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit alphabetic lower case.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('a') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('A') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('3') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('-') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('\n') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphaLower('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if between 97 and 122 inclusive */
public static boolean isAsciiAlphaLower(final char ch) { return ch >= 'a' && ch <= 'z'; }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit numeric.

  CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('a')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('A')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('3')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('-')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('\n') = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if between 48 and 57 inclusive
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit numeric.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('a') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('A') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('3') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('-') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('\n') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiNumeric('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if between 48 and 57 inclusive */
public static boolean isAsciiNumeric(final char ch) { return ch >= '0' && ch <= '9'; }

Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit numeric.

  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('a')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('A')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('3')  = true
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('-')  = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('\n') = false
  CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('©') = false
Params:
  • ch – the character to check
Returns:true if between 48 and 57 or 65 and 90 or 97 and 122 inclusive
/** * <p>Checks whether the character is ASCII 7 bit numeric.</p> * * <pre> * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('a') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('A') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('3') = true * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('-') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('\n') = false * CharUtils.isAsciiAlphanumeric('&copy;') = false * </pre> * * @param ch the character to check * @return true if between 48 and 57 or 65 and 90 or 97 and 122 inclusive */
public static boolean isAsciiAlphanumeric(final char ch) { return isAsciiAlpha(ch) || isAsciiNumeric(ch); }

Compares two char values numerically. This is the same functionality as provided in Java 7.

Params:
  • x – the first char to compare
  • y – the second char to compare
Returns:the value 0 if x == y; a value less than 0 if x < y; and a value greater than 0 if x > y
Since:3.4
/** * <p>Compares two {@code char} values numerically. This is the same functionality as provided in Java 7.</p> * * @param x the first {@code char} to compare * @param y the second {@code char} to compare * @return the value {@code 0} if {@code x == y}; * a value less than {@code 0} if {@code x < y}; and * a value greater than {@code 0} if {@code x > y} * @since 3.4 */
public static int compare(final char x, final char y) { return x-y; } }