File list sorting: numeric order vs lexicographical order

[sigma7863]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Product Feedback

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Feed

Body

Body

When browsing files in a repository, filenames with numbers are sorted lexicographically instead of numerically.

For example:

• file-1
• file-10
• file-2

Example of lexicographical sorting in a real repository (e.g., 0xAX/linux-insides on GitHub)

This makes it harder to navigate repositories that use numbered files (e.g., documentation chunks, migrations, or ordered assets).

Expected behavior

It would be helpful if GitHub supported natural sorting (numeric-aware sorting), so the order would be:

• file-1
• file-2
  ...
• file-10

Why this matters

• Improves readability for ordered files
• Reduces confusion when navigating large repositories
• Aligns with how humans naturally interpret numbered sequences

Workarounds and limitations

A common workaround is to use zero-padding:

• file-01
• file-02
  ...
• file-10

However, this approach has limitations. For example, when the total number of files grows (e.g., exceeding 100), filenames must be manually adjusted (e.g., 001, 002, ...), which can be inconvenient and error-prone. While not always a frequent scenario, it adds unnecessary friction.

Possible solutions

• Add an option to enable natural sorting
• Automatically detect numeric suffixes and sort accordingly

Thanks for considering this!

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[itxashancode]

I've seen this issue with numbered files. GitHub currently uses lexicographical sorting, which isn't ideal for numbers. For example, "file-10" appears before "file-2" because "1" comes before "2" in string comparison. Zero-padding (file-01, file-02) helps but becomes cumbersome with large numbers. I'd suggest adding a natural sort option or automatic detection of numeric suffixes. This would align with how humans expect ordered files to behave, especially in documentation or migration workflows.