Unicode Sorting & Collation Tool
Sort text correctly according to Unicode rules. Compare how different languages and locales order characters, from accents to case sensitivity.
Unicode Sorting Tool
Sort and organize Unicode characters
How the Unicode Sorting Tool Works
Enter a list of text items to sort, one per line. Choose the sorting method: code point order, locale-aware, case-sensitive or insensitive, natural sort, or custom collation.
Unicode sorting considers character properties beyond simple ASCII values. Accented characters, case folding, and locale-specific rules affect sort order. The tool applies Unicode Collation Algorithm (UCA) rules.
Preview the sorted results instantly. Compare different sorting methods side by side. Export the sorted list. Essential for internationalized applications.
When You'd Actually Use This
Sorting international names
Customer names from different countries? Sort correctly with locale-aware sorting. Ä sorts differently in German vs Swedish. Get it right for each locale.
Building multilingual apps
Your app displays sorted lists. Implement proper Unicode sorting. Test against this reference. Ensure correct order in all languages.
Preparing bibliographies
Academic references with international authors? Sort according to style guidelines. Handle diacritics correctly. Professional bibliography preparation.
Organizing multilingual content
Content in multiple languages? Sort each language appropriately. Locale-specific sorting respects language rules. Better user experience.
Testing sort implementations
Built a sorting algorithm? Test against this reference. Verify Unicode compliance. Catch edge cases with special characters.
Data cleaning and normalization
Deduplicate lists with proper sorting. Similar names sort together. Identify near-duplicates for review. Clean data more effectively.
What to Know Before Using
Sort order varies by locale.German: Ä sorts like Ae. Swedish: Ä sorts after Z. Spanish: CH was once a separate letter. Locale determines correct order.
Case sensitivity matters.Case-sensitive: 'Z' before 'a'. Case-insensitive: 'a' before 'Z'. Choose based on your needs. Affects sort results.
Natural sort handles numbers.'file2' before 'file10' in natural sort. Code point sort: 'file10' before 'file2'. Natural sort is more human-friendly.
Diacritics affect sorting.Some locales ignore diacritics (é = e). Others sort them specially. Know your locale's rules for correct sorting.
Pro tip: For databases, use collation settings that match your users' locale. UTF-8 alone isn't enough. Collation determines sort order. Choose carefully during schema design.
Common Questions
What is Unicode sorting?
Sorting text according to Unicode rules. Considers character properties, not just byte values. Handles international characters correctly.
Why doesn't ASCII sort work?
ASCII sort uses byte values. 'Z' (90) before 'a' (97). Accented chars sort unpredictably. Unicode sorting respects language rules.
What's natural sorting?
Numbers in strings sort numerically. 'file2' before 'file10'. More intuitive than character-by-character comparison.
How do I sort emoji?
Emoji sort by code point. Grouped by category in Unicode. Not particularly meaningful. Consider custom ordering for emoji.
What's the Unicode Collation Algorithm?
UTS #10 defines Unicode sorting. Multiple comparison levels (base, accent, case). Locale-specific tailoring. Industry standard.
Can I sort right-to-left text?
Yes, but sort order is logical, not visual. Arabic and Hebrew sort by their code points. Locale settings affect collation.
How do I handle mixed scripts?
Sort by script first, then within script. Or use a common collation. Depends on your use case. Consider user expectations.
Other Free Tools
Unicode Character Lookup
Unicode Character Lookup
Unicode Text Converter
Unicode Text Converter
Unicode Character Counter
Unicode Character Counter
Unicode Whitespace Remover
Unicode Whitespace Remover
ASCII to Hex Converter
ASCII to Hex Converter: Text to Hexadecimal Translator
Barcode Generator
Free Barcode Generator
Binary to Text Converter
Binary to Text Converter
Free Printable Calendar Maker
Create & Print Your Custom Calendar
Pie Chart Maker
Free Pie Chart Maker Online