# useCollator

## Introduction

`useCollator` wraps a builtin browser [Intl.Collator](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Intl/Collator)
object to provide a React Hook that integrates with the i18n system in React Aria. It handles string comparison according to the current locale,
updating when the locale changes, and caching of collators for performance. See the
[Intl.Collator](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Intl/Collator) docs for
information.

## Example

This example includes two textfields and compares the values of the two fields using a collator according to the current locale.

```tsx
'use client';
import React from 'react';
import {useCollator} from '@react-aria/i18n';

function Example() {
  let [first, setFirst] = React.useState('');
  let [second, setSecond] = React.useState('');

  let collator = useCollator();
  let result = collator.compare(first, second);

  return (
    <>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="first-string">First string</label>
        <input
          id="first-string"
          value={first}
          onChange={e => setFirst(e.target.value)} />
        <label htmlFor="second-string">Second string</label>
        <input
          id="second-string"
          value={second}
          onChange={e => setSecond(e.target.value)} />
      </div>
      <p>
        {result === 0
          ? 'The strings are the same'
          : result < 0
            ? 'First comes before second'
            : 'Second comes before first'
        }
      </p>
    </>
  );
}
```

## API

<FunctionAPI
  function={docs.exports.useCollator}
  links={docs.links}
/>