How to Sort a String Characters Alphabetically in Ruby?

This article focuses on discussing how to sort a string’s characters alphabetically in Ruby.

Using Chars and Sort

Syntax:

sorted_string = string.chars.sort.join

Example: 

In this example, the string is converted into an array of characters, and the sort method is used to sort the array.

Ruby

# Original string
string = "geeksforgeeks"

# Sort a string's characters alphabetically  
# using chars and sort
sorted_string = string.chars.sort.join
puts  sorted_string

Output

eeeefggkkorss

Using Split and Sort

Syntax:

sorted_string = string.split(”).sort.join

Example: 

In this example the string is split into an array of characters and the sort method is used to sort the array.

Ruby

# Original string
original_string = "geeksforgeeks"

# Sort the string alphabetically  
# Using String's each_char Method 
# and Array's sort Method
sorted_string = ''
original_string.each_char { |char| sorted_string << char }
sorted_string = sorted_string.chars.sort.join('')
puts  sorted_string

Output

eeeefggkkorss

Using Custom Sorting Algorithm

This method implements a custom sorting algorithm to sort the characters of the string str.

Example:

In this example, the input string “geekforgeeks” is iterated multiple times until the string is sorted.

Ruby

# Define a method to sort a string's characters 
# alphabetically using a custom sorting algorithm.
def sort_string(str)
  
  # Get the length of the input string.
  str_length = str.length
  
  # Initialize a variable to track whether 
  # the string is sorted.
  sorted = false
  
  # Continue iterating until the string is sorted.
  until sorted
    
    # Assume the string is sorted initially.
    sorted = true
    
    # Iterate through the characters of the string.
    (str_length - 1).times do |i|
      
      # Compare adjacent characters.
      if str[i] > str[i + 1]
        
        # If the current character is greater than 
        # the next one, swap them.
        str[i], str[i + 1] = str[i + 1], str[i]
        
        # Since a swap was made, the string is not yet sorted.
        sorted = false
      end
    end
  end
  # Return the sorted string.
  str
end

# Example string to be sorted.
example_string = "geekforgeeks"

# Call the method to sort the example string 
# and print the result.
puts sort_string(example_string)

Output

eeeefggkkors