Information technology - International string ordering and comparison - Method for comparing character strings and description of the common template tailorable ordering

This document defines a reference comparison method. This method is applicable to two or more character strings to determine their collating order in a sorted list. The method can be applied to strings containing characters from the full repertoire of ISO/IEC 10646. This method is also applicable to subsets of that repertoire to produce ordering results valid (after tailoring) for a given set of languages for each script. This method uses collation tables derived either from the Common Template Tables (CTT) referenced by this document or from one of their tailoring. The format of the Common Template Table is described using the Backus-Naur Form (BNF). The format is used normatively within this document.

This document also defines syntax elements to tailor these Common Template Tables used by the reference comparison method. Furthermore, it defines requirements for a declaration of the differences (delta) between a collation table and a given Common Template Table including the tailoring elements.

These Common Template Tables describe an order for all characters encoded in the current and past ISO/IEC 10646 editions, including amendments. They allow for a specification of a fully