diff --git a/src/core/kfileitem.h b/src/core/kfileitem.h
--- a/src/core/kfileitem.h
+++ b/src/core/kfileitem.h
@@ -486,6 +486,18 @@
      */
     bool operator!=(const KFileItem &other) const;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns true if other's URL is lexically greater than this url; otherwise returns false
+     * @since 5.47
+     */
+    bool operator<(const KFileItem &other) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if url other is lexically greater than this url; otherwise returns false
+     * @since 5.47
+     */
+    bool operator<(const QUrl &other) const;
+
     /**
      * Converts this KFileItem to a QVariant, this allows to use KFileItem
      * in QVariant() constructor
diff --git a/src/core/kfileitem.cpp b/src/core/kfileitem.cpp
--- a/src/core/kfileitem.cpp
+++ b/src/core/kfileitem.cpp
@@ -1236,6 +1236,22 @@
     return !operator==(other);
 }
 
+bool KFileItem::operator<(const KFileItem &other) const
+{
+    if (!d || !other.d) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    return d->m_url < other.d->m_url;
+}
+
+bool KFileItem::operator<(const QUrl &other) const
+{
+    if (!d) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    return d->m_url < other;
+}
+
 KFileItem::operator QVariant() const
 {
     return qVariantFromValue(*this);