public static int compare (char[] a, char[] b)

Compares two char arrays lexicographically.

If the two arrays share a common prefix then the lexicographic comparison is the result of comparing two elements, as if by Character.compare(char, char), at an index within the respective arrays that is the prefix length. Otherwise, one array is a proper prefix of the other and, lexicographic comparison is the result of comparing the two array lengths. (See mismatch(char[], char[]) for the definition of a common and proper prefix.)

A null array reference is considered lexicographically less than a non- null array reference. Two null array references are considered equal.

The comparison is consistent with equals, more specifically the following holds for arrays a and b:

     Arrays.equals(a, b) == (Arrays.compare(a, b) == 0)
 

Parameters:

a		the first array to compare
b		the second array to compare

Returns:  the value 0 if the first and second array are equal and contain the same elements in the same order; a value less than 0 if the first array is lexicographically less than the second array; and a value greater than 0 if the first array is lexicographically greater than the second array

Since:  9

@apiNote

This method behaves as if (for non- null array references):

     int i = Arrays.mismatch(a, b);
     if (i >= 0 && i < Math.min(a.length, b.length))
         return Character.compare(a[i], b[i]);
     return a.length - b.length;