diff --git a/autotests/kfileitemtest.h b/autotests/kfileitemtest.h
--- a/autotests/kfileitemtest.h
+++ b/autotests/kfileitemtest.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
     void testHiddenFile();
     void testMimeTypeOnDemand();
     void testCmp();
+    void testCmpByUrl();
     void testRename();
     void testRefresh();
     void testDotDirectory();
diff --git a/autotests/kfileitemtest.cpp b/autotests/kfileitemtest.cpp
--- a/autotests/kfileitemtest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/kfileitemtest.cpp
@@ -294,6 +294,42 @@
     QVERIFY(fileItem.cmp(fileItem2));
 }
 
+void KFileItemTest::testCmpByUrl()
+{
+    const QUrl nulUrl;
+    const QUrl url  = QUrl::fromLocalFile(QStringLiteral("1foo"));
+    const QUrl url2 = QUrl::fromLocalFile(QStringLiteral("fo1"));
+    const QUrl url3 = QUrl::fromLocalFile(QStringLiteral("foo"));
+    KFileItem nulFileItem;
+    KFileItem nulFileItem2(nulUrl);
+    KFileItem fileItem(url);
+    KFileItem fileItem2(url2);
+    KFileItem fileItem3(url3);
+
+    // an invalid KFileItem is considered equal to any other invalid KFileItem or invalid QUrl.
+    QVERIFY(!(nulFileItem < nulFileItem));
+    QVERIFY(!(nulFileItem < nulFileItem2));
+    QVERIFY(!(nulFileItem2 < nulFileItem));
+    QVERIFY(!(nulFileItem < nulUrl));
+    // an invalid KFileItem is considered less than any valid KFileItem.
+    QVERIFY(nulFileItem < fileItem);
+    // a valid KFileItem is not less than an invalid KFileItem or invalid QUrl
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem < nulUrl));
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem < nulFileItem));
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem < nulFileItem2));
+
+    QVERIFY(fileItem < fileItem2);
+    QVERIFY(fileItem < url2);
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem2 < fileItem));
+    QVERIFY(fileItem2 < fileItem3);
+    QVERIFY(fileItem < url3);
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem3 < fileItem2));
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem3 < fileItem));
+    // Must be false as they are considered equal
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem < fileItem));
+    QVERIFY(!(fileItem < url));
+}
+
 void KFileItemTest::testRename()
 {
     KIO::UDSEntry entry;
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 this item's URL is lexically less than other's URL; otherwise returns false
+     * @since 5.48
+     */
+    bool operator<(const KFileItem &other) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if this item's URL is lexically less than url other; otherwise returns false
+     * @since 5.48
+     */
+    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
@@ -1240,6 +1240,25 @@
     return !operator==(other);
 }
 
+bool KFileItem::operator<(const KFileItem &other) const
+{
+    if (!other.d) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if (!d) {
+        return other.d->m_url.isValid();
+    }
+    return d->m_url < other.d->m_url;
+}
+
+bool KFileItem::operator<(const QUrl &other) const
+{
+    if (!d) {
+        return other.isValid();
+    }
+    return d->m_url < other;
+}
+
 KFileItem::operator QVariant() const
 {
     return qVariantFromValue(*this);