collation

Collation refers to the way data or text is ordered and grouped, especially when sorting or comparing information. It determines how characters, words, or symbols are arranged based on predefined rules, such as alphabetical or numerical order. Different collation settings can affect whether, for example, uppercase and lowercase letters are considered equal or whether accents and special characters influence the sorting order. Essentially, collation ensures that data is organized consistently according to language and cultural standards, which is important for accurate searching, sorting, and comparing information in databases and software applications.