# Package org.apache.commons.io.comparator

This package provides various `Comparator` implementations for `File`s.

See: Description

Class Summary
CompositeFileComparator: Compare two files using a set of delegate file `Comparator`.
DefaultFileComparator: Compare two files using the default `File.compareTo(File)` method.
DirectoryFileComparator: Compare two files using the `File.isDirectory()` method.
ExtensionFileComparator: Compare the file name extensions for order (see `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)`).
LastModifiedFileComparator: Compare the last modified date/time of two files for order (see `File.lastModified()`).
NameFileComparator: Compare the names of two files for order (see `File.getName()`).
PathFileComparator: Compare the path of two files for order (see `File.getPath()`).
SizeFileComparator: Compare the length/size of two files for order (see `File.length()` and `FileUtils.sizeOfDirectory(File)`).

## Package org.apache.commons.io.comparator Description

This package provides various `Comparator` implementations for `File`s.

### Sorting

All the compartors include convenience utility `sort(File...)` and `sort(List)` methods.

For example, to sort the files in a directory by name:

            File[] files = dir.listFiles();
            NameFileComparator.NAME_COMPARATOR.sort(files);

...alternatively you can do this in one line:

          File[] files = NameFileComparator.NAME_COMPARATOR.sort(dir.listFiles());

### Composite Comparator

The CompositeFileComparator can be used to compare (and sort lists or arrays of files) by combining a number other comparators.

For example, to sort an array of files by type (i.e. directory or file) and then by name:

          CompositeFileComparator comparator =
                          new CompositeFileComparator(
                                      DirectoryFileComparator.DIRECTORY_COMPARATOR,
                                      NameFileComparator.NAME_COMPARATOR);
          File[] files = dir.listFiles();
          comparator.sort(files);

### Singleton Instances (thread-safe)

The `Comparator` implementations have some convenience singleton(thread-safe) instances ready to use:

- DefaultFileComparator - default file compare:
  - DEFAULT_COMPARATOR - Compare using `File.compareTo(File)` method.
  - DEFAULT_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `File.compareTo(File)` method.
- DirectoryFileComparator - compare by type (directory or file):
  - DIRECTORY_COMPARATOR - Compare using `File.isDirectory()` method (directories < files).
  - DIRECTORY_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `File.isDirectory()` method (directories >files).
- ExtensionFileComparator - compare file extenstions:
  - EXTENSION_COMPARATOR - Compare using `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)` method.
  - EXTENSION_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)` method.
  - EXTENSION_INSENSITIVE_COMPARATOR - Case-insensitive compare using `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)` method.
  - EXTENSION_INSENSITIVE_REVERSE - Reverse case-insensitive compare of `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)` method.
  - EXTENSION_SYSTEM_COMPARATOR - System sensitive compare using `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)` method.
  - EXTENSION_SYSTEM_REVERSE - Reverse system sensitive compare of `FilenameUtils.getExtension(String)` method.
- LastModifiedFileComparator - compare the file's last modified date/time:
  - LASTMODIFIED_COMPARATOR - Compare using `File.lastModified()` method.
  - LASTMODIFIED_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `File.lastModified()` method.
- NameFileComparator - compare file names:
  - NAME_COMPARATOR - Compare using `File.getName()` method.
  - NAME_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `File.getName()` method.
  - NAME_INSENSITIVE_COMPARATOR - Case-insensitive compare using `File.getName()` method.
  - NAME_INSENSITIVE_REVERSE - Reverse case-insensitive compare of `File.getName()` method.
  - NAME_SYSTEM_COMPARATOR - System sensitive compare using `File.getName()` method.
  - NAME_SYSTEM_REVERSE - Reverse system sensitive compare of `File.getName()` method.
- PathFileComparator - compare file paths:
  - PATH_COMPARATOR - Compare using `File.getPath()` method.
  - PATH_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `File.getPath()` method.
  - PATH_INSENSITIVE_COMPARATOR - Case-insensitive compare using `File.getPath()` method.
  - PATH_INSENSITIVE_REVERSE - Reverse case-insensitive compare of `File.getPath()` method.
  - PATH_SYSTEM_COMPARATOR - System sensitive compare using `File.getPath()` method.
  - PATH_SYSTEM_REVERSE - Reverse system sensitive compare of `File.getPath()` method.
- SizeFileComparator - compare the file's size:
  - SIZE_COMPARATOR - Compare using `File.length()` method (directories treated as zero length).
  - LASTMODIFIED_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `File.length()` method (directories treated as zero length).
  - SIZE_SUMDIR_COMPARATOR - Compare using `FileUtils.sizeOfDirectory(File)` method (sums the size of a directory's contents).
  - SIZE_SUMDIR_REVERSE - Reverse compare of `FileUtils.sizeOfDirectory(File)` method (sums the size of a directory's contents).