C++98: std::lexicographical_compare()

std::lexicographical_compare() tests for ‘lexigraphically less than’ on two ranges. For strings, it is functionally equivalent to ‘<’. Here is an example:

#define _SCL_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS 1 // Turn off Microsoft Error/Warning

#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
  int sequence1[8] = {1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 7, 6, 9};
  int sequence2[8] = {1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 7, 6, 9};
  int sequence3[8] = {1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 7, 6};

  bool lhsIsLessThanRhs = false;

  lhsIsLessThanRhs = std::lexicographical_compare(&sequence1[0],
                                                  &sequence1[8],
                                                  &sequence2[0],
                                                  &sequence2[8]);

  std::cout << lhsIsLessThanRhs << " "; // 0

  lhsIsLessThanRhs = std::lexicographical_compare(&sequence2[0],
                                                  &sequence2[8],
                                                  &sequence3[0],
                                                  &sequence3[8]);

  std::cout << lhsIsLessThanRhs << " "; // 0

  lhsIsLessThanRhs = std::lexicographical_compare(&sequence3[0],
                                                  &sequence3[8],
                                                  &sequence1[0],
                                                  &sequence1[8]);

  std::cout << lhsIsLessThanRhs << " "; // 1


  std::cout << std::endl;
  return 0;
}
// Output: 0 0 1

Reference: Josuttis, Nicolai M., The C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial and Reference. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1999, pp. 360-2.