Byte.CompareTo Method (Byte)

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Compares this instance to a specified 8-bit unsigned integer and returns an indication of their relative values.

Namespace:  System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

'Declaration
Public Function CompareTo ( _
    value As Byte _
) As Integer
public int CompareTo(
    byte value
)

Parameters

  • value
    Type: System.Byte
    An 8-bit unsigned integer to compare.

Return Value

Type: System.Int32
A signed integer that indicates the relationship of this instance to value.

Return Value

Description

Less than zero

This instance is less than value.

Zero

This instance is equal to value.

Greater than zero

This instance is greater than value.

Implements

IComparable<T>.CompareTo(T)

Remarks

This method implements the System.IComparable<T> interface and performs slightly better than the Byte.CompareTo(Object) method because it does not have to convert the value parameter to an object.

Depending on your programming language, it might be possible to code a CompareTo method where the parameter type has fewer bits (is narrower) than the instance type. This is possible because some programming languages perform an implicit widening conversion that represents the parameter as a type with as many bits as the instance.

For example, suppose the instance type is Int32 and the parameter type is Byte. The Microsoft C# compiler generates instructions to represent the value of the parameter as an Int32, then generates a Int32.CompareTo method that compares the values of the Int32 instance and the Int32 parameter representation.

Consult your programming language's documentation to determine whether its compiler performs implicit widening conversions on numeric types.

Examples

The following example demonstrates both overloads of the CompareTo method for several value and reference types.

' This example demonstrates the generic and non-generic versions of the 
' CompareTo method for several base types.
' The non-generic version takes a parameter of type Object, while the generic
' version takes a type-specific parameter, such as Boolean, Int32, or Double.


Class Example
   Public Shared Sub Demo(ByVal outputBlock As System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock)
      Dim nl As String = vbCrLf
      Dim msg As String = _
          "{0}The following is the result of using the generic and non-generic{0}" & _
          "versions of the CompareTo method for several base types:{0}"

      Dim now As DateTime = DateTime.Now
      ' Time span = 11 days, 22 hours, 33 minutes, 44 seconds
      Dim tsX As New TimeSpan(11, 22, 33, 44)
      ' Version = 1.2.333.4
      Dim versX As New Version("1.2.333.4")
      ' Guid = CA761232-ED42-11CE-BACD-00AA0057B223
      Dim guidX As New Guid("{CA761232-ED42-11CE-BACD-00AA0057B223}")

      Dim a1 As [Boolean] = True, a2 As [Boolean] = True
      Dim b1 As [Byte] = 1, b2 As [Byte] = 1
      Dim c1 As Int16 = -2, c2 As Int16 = 2
      Dim d1 As Int32 = 3, d2 As Int32 = 3
      Dim e1 As Int64 = 4, e2 As Int64 = -4
      Dim f1 As [Decimal] = -5.5D, f2 As [Decimal] = 5.5D
      Dim g1 As [Single] = 6.6F, g2 As [Single] = 6.6F
      Dim h1 As [Double] = 7.7, h2 As [Double] = -7.7
      Dim i1 As [Char] = "A"c, i2 As [Char] = "A"c
      Dim j1 As String = "abc", j2 As String = "abc"
      Dim k1 As DateTime = now, k2 As DateTime = now
      Dim l1 As TimeSpan = tsX, l2 As TimeSpan = tsX
      Dim m1 As Version = versX, m2 As New Version("2.0")
      Dim n1 As Guid = guidX, n2 As Guid = guidX

      ' The following types are not CLS-compliant.
      ' SByte, UInt16, UInt32, UInt64

      outputBlock.Text &= String.Format(msg, nl) & vbCrLf
      Try
         ' The second and third Show method call parameters are automatically boxed because
         ' the second and third Show method declaration arguments expect type Object.

         Show(outputBlock, "Boolean:  ", a1, a2, a1.CompareTo(a2), a1.CompareTo(CObj(a2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Byte:     ", b1, b2, b1.CompareTo(b2), b1.CompareTo(CObj(b2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Int16:    ", c1, c2, c1.CompareTo(c2), c1.CompareTo(CObj(c2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Int32:    ", d1, d2, d1.CompareTo(d2), d1.CompareTo(CObj(d2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Int64:    ", e1, e2, e1.CompareTo(e2), e1.CompareTo(CObj(e2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Decimal:  ", f1, f2, f1.CompareTo(f2), f1.CompareTo(CObj(f2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Single:   ", g1, g2, g1.CompareTo(g2), g1.CompareTo(CObj(g2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Double:   ", h1, h2, h1.CompareTo(h2), h1.CompareTo(CObj(h2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Char:     ", i1, i2, i1.CompareTo(i2), i1.CompareTo(CObj(i2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "String:   ", j1, j2, j1.CompareTo(j2), j1.CompareTo(CObj(j2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "DateTime: ", k1, k2, k1.CompareTo(k2), k1.CompareTo(CObj(k2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "TimeSpan: ", l1, l2, l1.CompareTo(l2), l1.CompareTo(CObj(l2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Version:  ", m1, m2, m1.CompareTo(m2), m1.CompareTo(CObj(m2)))
         Show(outputBlock, "Guid:     ", n1, n2, n1.CompareTo(n2), n1.CompareTo(CObj(n2)))
         '
         outputBlock.Text &= String.Format("{0}The following types are not CLS-compliant:", nl) & vbCrLf
         outputBlock.Text &= String.Format("SByte, UInt16, UInt32, UInt64") & vbCrLf

      Catch e As Exception
         outputBlock.Text &= e.GetType().Name & vbCrLf
      End Try
   End Sub 'Main

   Public Shared Sub Show(ByVal outputBlock As System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock, ByVal caption As String, ByVal var1 As [Object], ByVal var2 As [Object], _
                          ByVal resultGeneric As Integer, ByVal resultNonGeneric As Integer)
      Dim relation As String

      outputBlock.Text &= caption
      If resultGeneric = resultNonGeneric Then
         If resultGeneric < 0 Then
            relation = "less than"
         ElseIf resultGeneric > 0 Then
            relation = "greater than"
         Else
            relation = "equal to"
         End If
         outputBlock.Text &= String.Format("{0} is {1} {2}", var1, relation, var2) & vbCrLf

         ' The following condition will never occur because the generic and non-generic
         ' CompareTo methods are equivalent.

      Else
         outputBlock.Text &= String.Format("Generic CompareTo = {0}; non-generic CompareTo = {1}", _
                            resultGeneric, resultNonGeneric) & vbCrLf
      End If
   End Sub 'Show
End Class 'Sample
'
'This example produces the following results:
'
'The following is the result of using the generic and non-generic versions of the
'CompareTo method for several base types:
'
'Boolean:  True is equal to True
'Byte:     1 is equal to 1
'Int16:    -2 is less than 2
'Int32:    3 is equal to 3
'Int64:    4 is greater than -4
'Decimal:  -5.5 is less than 5.5
'Single:   6.6 is equal to 6.6
'Double:   7.7 is greater than -7.7
'Char:     A is equal to A
'String:   abc is equal to abc
'DateTime: 12/1/2003 5:37:46 PM is equal to 12/1/2003 5:37:46 PM
'TimeSpan: 11.22:33:44 is equal to 11.22:33:44
'Version:  1.2.333.4 is less than 2.0
'Guid:     ca761232-ed42-11ce-bacd-00aa0057b223 is equal to ca761232-ed42-11ce-bacd-00
'aa0057b223
'
'The following types are not CLS-compliant:
'SByte, UInt16, UInt32, UInt64
'
// This example demonstrates the generic and non-generic versions of the 
// CompareTo method for several base types.
// The non-generic version takes a parameter of type Object, while the generic
// version takes a type-specific parameter, such as Boolean, Int32, or Double.

using System;

class Example
{
   public static void Demo(System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock outputBlock)
   {
      string nl = "\n";
      string msg = "{0}The following is the result of using the generic and non-generic{0}" +
                      "versions of the CompareTo method for several base types:{0}";

      DateTime now = DateTime.Now;
      // Time span = 11 days, 22 hours, 33 minutes, 44 seconds
      TimeSpan tsX = new TimeSpan(11, 22, 33, 44);
      // Version = 1.2.333.4
      Version versX = new Version("1.2.333.4");
      // Guid = CA761232-ED42-11CE-BACD-00AA0057B223
      Guid guidX = new Guid("{CA761232-ED42-11CE-BACD-00AA0057B223}");

      Boolean a1 = true, a2 = true;
      Byte b1 = 1, b2 = 1;
      Int16 c1 = -2, c2 = 2;
      Int32 d1 = 3, d2 = 3;
      Int64 e1 = 4, e2 = -4;
      Decimal f1 = -5.5m, f2 = 5.5m;
      Single g1 = 6.6f, g2 = 6.6f;
      Double h1 = 7.7d, h2 = -7.7d;
      Char i1 = 'A', i2 = 'A';
      String j1 = "abc", j2 = "abc";
      DateTime k1 = now, k2 = now;
      TimeSpan l1 = tsX, l2 = tsX;
      Version m1 = versX, m2 = new Version("2.0");
      Guid n1 = guidX, n2 = guidX;

      // The following types are not CLS-compliant.
      SByte w1 = 8, w2 = 8;
      UInt16 x1 = 9, x2 = 9;
      UInt32 y1 = 10, y2 = 10;
      UInt64 z1 = 11, z2 = 11;
      //
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format(msg, nl) + "\n";
      try
      {
         // The second and third Show method call parameters are automatically boxed because
         // the second and third Show method declaration arguments expect type Object.

         Show(outputBlock, "Boolean:  ", a1, a2, a1.CompareTo(a2), a1.CompareTo((Object)a2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Byte:     ", b1, b2, b1.CompareTo(b2), b1.CompareTo((Object)b2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Int16:    ", c1, c2, c1.CompareTo(c2), c1.CompareTo((Object)c2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Int32:    ", d1, d2, d1.CompareTo(d2), d1.CompareTo((Object)d2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Int64:    ", e1, e2, e1.CompareTo(e2), e1.CompareTo((Object)e2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Decimal:  ", f1, f2, f1.CompareTo(f2), f1.CompareTo((Object)f2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Single:   ", g1, g2, g1.CompareTo(g2), g1.CompareTo((Object)g2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Double:   ", h1, h2, h1.CompareTo(h2), h1.CompareTo((Object)h2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Char:     ", i1, i2, i1.CompareTo(i2), i1.CompareTo((Object)i2));
         Show(outputBlock, "String:   ", j1, j2, j1.CompareTo(j2), j1.CompareTo((Object)j2));
         Show(outputBlock, "DateTime: ", k1, k2, k1.CompareTo(k2), k1.CompareTo((Object)k2));
         Show(outputBlock, "TimeSpan: ", l1, l2, l1.CompareTo(l2), l1.CompareTo((Object)l2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Version:  ", m1, m2, m1.CompareTo(m2), m1.CompareTo((Object)m2));
         Show(outputBlock, "Guid:     ", n1, n2, n1.CompareTo(n2), n1.CompareTo((Object)n2));
         //
         outputBlock.Text += String.Format("{0}The following types are not CLS-compliant:", nl) + "\n";
         Show(outputBlock, "SByte:    ", w1, w2, w1.CompareTo(w2), w1.CompareTo((Object)w2));
         Show(outputBlock, "UInt16:   ", x1, x2, x1.CompareTo(x2), x1.CompareTo((Object)x2));
         Show(outputBlock, "UInt32:   ", y1, y2, y1.CompareTo(y2), y1.CompareTo((Object)y2));
         Show(outputBlock, "UInt64:   ", z1, z2, z1.CompareTo(z2), z1.CompareTo((Object)z2));
      }
      catch (Exception e)
      {
         outputBlock.Text += e + "\n";
      }
   }

   public static void Show(System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock outputBlock, string caption, Object var1, Object var2,
                           int resultGeneric, int resultNonGeneric)
   {
      string relation;

      outputBlock.Text += caption;
      if (resultGeneric == resultNonGeneric)
      {
         if (resultGeneric < 0) relation = "less than";
         else if (resultGeneric > 0) relation = "greater than";
         else relation = "equal to";
         outputBlock.Text += String.Format("{0} is {1} {2}", var1, relation, var2) + "\n";
      }

  // The following condition will never occur because the generic and non-generic
      // CompareTo methods are equivalent.

      else
      {
         outputBlock.Text += String.Format("Generic CompareTo = {0}; non-generic CompareTo = {1}",
                            resultGeneric, resultNonGeneric) + "\n";
      }
   }
}
/*
This example produces the following results:

The following is the result of using the generic and non-generic versions of the
CompareTo method for several base types:

Boolean:  True is equal to True
Byte:     1 is equal to 1
Int16:    -2 is less than 2
Int32:    3 is equal to 3
Int64:    4 is greater than -4
Decimal:  -5.5 is less than 5.5
Single:   6.6 is equal to 6.6
Double:   7.7 is greater than -7.7
Char:     A is equal to A
String:   abc is equal to abc
DateTime: 12/1/2003 5:37:46 PM is equal to 12/1/2003 5:37:46 PM
TimeSpan: 11.22:33:44 is equal to 11.22:33:44
Version:  1.2.333.4 is less than 2.0
Guid:     ca761232-ed42-11ce-bacd-00aa0057b223 is equal to ca761232-ed42-11ce-bacd-00
aa0057b223

The following types are not CLS-compliant:
SByte:    8 is equal to 8
UInt16:   9 is equal to 9
UInt32:   10 is equal to 10
UInt64:   11 is equal to 11
*/

Version Information

Silverlight

Supported in: 5, 4, 3

Silverlight for Windows Phone

Supported in: Windows Phone OS 7.1, Windows Phone OS 7.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: Xbox 360, Windows Phone OS 7.0

Platforms

For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.