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C Academy · Lesson

qsort with Comparators

Standard library callbacks.

qsort with Comparators is a free C Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

The Standard qsort

The standard library provides qsort in <stdlib.h>, a generic sort that works on any array type by using a comparator callback.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int cmp_int(const void *a, const void *b) {
    int x = *(const int *)a;
    int y = *(const int *)b;
    return (x > y) - (x < y);
}

int main(void) {
    int a[] = {3, 1, 2};
    qsort(a, 3, sizeof(int), cmp_int);
    printf("%d %d %d\n", a[0], a[1], a[2]);
    return 0;
}

The qsort Signature

qsort(base, count, size, compare) takes the array start, element count, element size, and a comparator.

It is generic because it works with raw bytes plus your comparator.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    return *(const int*)a - *(const int*)b;
}

int main(void) {
    int a[] = {9, 4, 7, 1};
    qsort(a, 4, sizeof(int), cmp);
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) printf("%d ", a[i]);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

The Comparator Contract

The comparator returns a negative value if the first element should come before the second, zero if equal, and positive if after.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    int x = *(const int*)a, y = *(const int*)b;
    if (x < y) return -1;
    if (x > y) return 1;
    return 0;
}

int main(void) {
    int a[] = {5, 2, 8, 2};
    qsort(a, 4, sizeof(int), cmp);
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) printf("%d ", a[i]);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

Casting void Pointers

The comparator receives const void * for each element. Cast them to the correct type and dereference to read the values.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    double x = *(const double*)a;
    double y = *(const double*)b;
    return (x > y) - (x < y);
}

int main(void) {
    double d[] = {2.5, 1.1, 3.3};
    qsort(d, 3, sizeof(double), cmp);
    printf("%.1f %.1f %.1f\n", d[0], d[1], d[2]);
    return 0;
}

Descending Order

Reverse the comparison to sort from largest to smallest.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int desc(const void *a, const void *b) {
    int x = *(const int*)a, y = *(const int*)b;
    return (y > x) - (y < x);
}

int main(void) {
    int a[] = {1, 5, 3, 2};
    qsort(a, 4, sizeof(int), desc);
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) printf("%d ", a[i]);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

Avoid Subtraction Overflow

Returning x - y can overflow for large integers. The safe idiom (x > y) - (x < y) avoids that.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int safe_cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    int x = *(const int*)a, y = *(const int*)b;
    return (x > y) - (x < y);
}

int main(void) {
    int a[] = {100, -100, 0};
    qsort(a, 3, sizeof(int), safe_cmp);
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) printf("%d ", a[i]);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

Sorting Strings

For an array of char *, each element is itself a pointer, so cast to const char * const * and compare with strcmp.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

int cmp_str(const void *a, const void *b) {
    const char *sa = *(const char * const *)a;
    const char *sb = *(const char * const *)b;
    return strcmp(sa, sb);
}

int main(void) {
    const char *w[] = {"pear", "apple", "fig"};
    qsort(w, 3, sizeof(char*), cmp_str);
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) printf("%s ", w[i]);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

Sorting Structs

qsort handles arrays of structures too. Compare a chosen field inside the comparator.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

typedef struct { char name; int age; } Person;

int by_age(const void *a, const void *b) {
    int x = ((const Person*)a)->age;
    int y = ((const Person*)b)->age;
    return (x > y) - (x < y);
}

int main(void) {
    Person p[] = {{'C',30},{'A',20},{'B',25}};
    qsort(p, 3, sizeof(Person), by_age);
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) printf("%c:%d ", p[i].name, p[i].age);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

bsearch Uses the Same Idea

bsearch performs a binary search on a sorted array using a comparator with the same contract as qsort.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    return (*(const int*)a) - (*(const int*)b);
}

int main(void) {
    int a[] = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9};
    int key = 7;
    int *found = bsearch(&key, a, 5, sizeof(int), cmp);
    printf("found: %d\n", found ? *found : -1);
    return 0;
}

Multiple Sort Keys

A comparator can compare a primary field, then a secondary field when the first ties.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

typedef struct { int grade; int id; } Rec;

int cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    const Rec *x = a, *y = b;
    if (x->grade != y->grade) return x->grade - y->grade;
    return x->id - y->id;
}

int main(void) {
    Rec r[] = {{90,2},{90,1},{80,3}};
    qsort(r, 3, sizeof(Rec), cmp);
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) printf("%d/%d ", r[i].grade, r[i].id);
    printf("\n");
    return 0;
}

Why Generic Sort Matters

Because qsort separates the algorithm from the comparison, one well-tested function sorts any data type you can compare.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
    char x = *(const char*)a, y = *(const char*)b;
    return (x > y) - (x < y);
}

int main(void) {
    char s[] = "dcba";
    qsort(s, 4, sizeof(char), cmp);
    printf("%s\n", s);
    return 0;
}

Quick Check

Test your understanding of qsort comparators.

Recap

You learned to use qsort with comparators:

  • qsort(base, count, size, compare) sorts any array generically.
  • The comparator takes two const void * and returns negative, zero, or positive.
  • Use (x > y) - (x < y) to avoid overflow.
  • The same comparator contract powers bsearch, struct sorts, and multi-key sorts.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “qsort with Comparators” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “qsort with Comparators” is free to read here on the web, and the C Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “qsort with Comparators”?

Standard library callbacks. You practise C Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C Academy?

No prior experience is required. C Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “qsort with Comparators” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this C Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Declaring Function Pointers
  2. Passing Functions
  3. qsort with Comparators
  4. Function Pointer Tables
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