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Decimal.CompareTo() Method in C#

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
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This method is used to compare the current instance to a specified object or Decimal and returns an indication of their relative values. There are 2 methods in the overload list of this method as follows:

  • CompareTo(Decimal) Method
  • CompareTo(Object) Method

Decimal.CompareTo(Decimal) Method

This method is used to compare the current instance to a specified Decimal object and returns a comparison of their relative values.

Syntax: 

public int CompareTo (decimal value);

Here, it takes the object to compare with this instance.

Return Value: It returns a 32-bit signed number indicating the relative values of the current instance and value parameter as follows:  

  • Less than Zero: if Current Instance < value
  • Zero: if Current Instance = value
  • Greater than Zero: if Current Instance > value

Below programs illustrate the use of Decimal.CompareTo(Decimal) Method

Example 1:  

C# 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// Decimal.CompareTo(Double) Method
using System;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {

        // Declaring and initializing value1
        decimal value1 = 10;

        // Declaring and initializing value2
        decimal value2 = 20;

        // compare both decimal value
        // using CompareTo() method
        int status = value1.CompareTo(value2);

        // checking the status
        if (status > 0)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is greater than {1}",
                                        value1, value2);
        else if (status < 0)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is less than {1}",
                                     value1, value2);
        else
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is equal to {1}",
                                    value1, value2);
    }
}

Output: 
10 is less than 20

 

Example 2: 

C# 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// Decimal.CompareTo(Double) Method
using System;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        // calling get() method
        get(5, 7);
        get(30, 20);
        get(10, 20);
        get(7, -12);
    }

    // defining get() method
    public static void get(decimal value1,
                          decimal value2)
    {

        // using CompareTo() method
        int status = value1.CompareTo(value2);

        // checking the status
        if (status > 0)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is greater than {1}",
                                        value1, value2);
        else if (status < 0)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is less than {1}",
                                     value1, value2);
        else
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is equal to {1}",
                                    value1, value2);
    }
}

Output: 
5 is less than 7
30 is greater than 20
10 is less than 20
7 is greater than -12

 

Decimal.CompareTo(Object) Method

This method is used to compare the current instance to a specified object and returns a comparison of their relative values. 

Syntax: 

public int CompareTo (object value);

Here, it takes the object to compare with this instance, or null.

Return Value: It returns a 32-bit signed number indicating the relative values of the current instance and value parameter as follows:  

  • Less than Zero: if Current Instance < value
  • Zero: if Current Instance = value
  • Greater than Zero: if Current Instance > value

Exception: It throws ArgumentException if value is not a null.

Below programs illustrate the use of Decimal.CompareTo(Object) Method

Example 1: 

C# 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// Decimal.CompareTo(object) Method
using System;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        try {

            // Declaring and initializing value1
            decimal value1 = 10;

            // Declaring and initializing value2
            object value2 = (decimal)9.8765400E+2;

            // compare both decimal value
            // using CompareTo() method
            int status = value1.CompareTo(value2);

            // checking the status
            if (status > 0)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} is greater than {1}",
                                            value1, value2);

            else if (status < 0)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} is less than {1}",
                                       value1, value2);
            else
                Console.WriteLine("{0} is equal to {1}",
                                        value1, value2);
        }

        catch (ArgumentException e) 
        {
            Console.WriteLine("value2 must be decimal");
            Console.Write("Exception Thrown: ");
            Console.Write("{0}", e.GetType(), e.Message);
        }
    }
}

Output: 
10 is less than 987.654

 

Example 2: For ArgumentException

C# 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// Decimal.CompareTo(object) Method
using System;
using System.Globalization;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        try {

            // Declaring and initializing value1
            decimal value1 = 10;

            // Declaring and initializing value2
            object value2 = 1 / 3;

            // using CompareTo() method
            int status = value1.CompareTo(value2);

            // checking the status
            if (status > 0)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} is greater than {1}",
                                            value1, value2);

            else if (status < 0)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} is less than {1}",
                                         value1, value2);
            else
                Console.WriteLine("{0} is equal to {1}",
                                        value1, value2);
        }

        catch (ArgumentException e) 
        {
            Console.WriteLine("value2 must be decimal");
            Console.Write("Exception Thrown: ");
            Console.Write("{0}", e.GetType(), e.Message);
        }
    }
}

Output: 
value2 must be decimal
Exception Thrown: System.ArgumentException

 

Reference: 


 


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