C PROGRAMMING PROGRAM • STRINGS

Sort the Characters in a String

Learn how to sort the characters in a string using a clear C program.

IntermediateStringsSortingCharacter codes

PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING

Input and expected output

Sample input
dcab
Sample output
Sorted: abcd

COMPLETE C PROGRAM

Complete C implementation

sort-string-characters.c
Open in compiler
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

int main(void)
{
    char text[300];

    fgets(text, sizeof text, stdin);
    text[strcspn(text, "\n")] = '\0';
    int length = (int) strlen(text);
    for (int start = 0; start < length - 1; start++) {
        for (int index = start + 1; index < length; index++) {
            if ((unsigned char) text[start] > (unsigned char) text[index]) {
                char temporary = text[start]; text[start] = text[index]; text[index] = temporary;
            }
        }
    }
    printf("Sorted: %s\n", text);
    return 0;
}

GUIDED CODE TOUR • NOT LIVE EXECUTION

Study the program line by line

Use the real compiler button above to run and debug with different inputs.

CURRENT STEP

Select Start to walk through the important lines.

SELECTED LINE

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EXPECTED OUTPUT FOR THE SAMPLE

Sorted: abcd
0%Step 0 of 0

PROGRAM EXPLANATION

Algorithm and explanation

  1. Read the required input values.
  2. Compare character codes and swap them into ascending order.
  3. Display the computed result.

Compare character codes and swap them into ascending order.

EFFICIENCY

Time and space complexity

Time complexity

O(n²)

Auxiliary space

O(1)

DEBUGGING CHECKLIST

Common mistakes

Check this

Use the correct format specifier for every variable.

Check this

Initialize variables before using their values.

Check this

Check braces, semicolons and input order carefully.

Try it yourself

Practice: Run the program with the sample input, predict its output, and then test one boundary case of your own.