diff --git a/sorts/bitonic_sort.py b/sorts/bitonic_sort.py
index 600f8139603a..f2cf04d8c681 100644
--- a/sorts/bitonic_sort.py
+++ b/sorts/bitonic_sort.py
@@ -6,8 +6,16 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from typing import Protocol
 
-def comp_and_swap(array: list[int], index1: int, index2: int, direction: int) -> None:
+
+class Comparable(Protocol):
+    def __lt__(self, other: object, /) -> bool: ...
+
+
+def comp_and_swap[T: Comparable](
+    array: list[T], index1: int, index2: int, direction: int
+) -> None:
     """Compare the value at given index1 and index2 of the array and swap them as per
     the given direction.
 
@@ -32,13 +40,15 @@ def comp_and_swap(array: list[int], index1: int, index2: int, direction: int) ->
     >>> arr
     [12, 42, -21, 1]
     """
-    if (direction == 1 and array[index1] > array[index2]) or (
+    if (direction == 1 and array[index2] < array[index1]) or (
         direction == 0 and array[index1] < array[index2]
     ):
         array[index1], array[index2] = array[index2], array[index1]
 
 
-def bitonic_merge(array: list[int], low: int, length: int, direction: int) -> None:
+def bitonic_merge[T: Comparable](
+    array: list[T], low: int, length: int, direction: int
+) -> None:
     """
     It recursively sorts a bitonic sequence in ascending order, if direction = 1, and in
     descending if direction = 0.
@@ -62,7 +72,9 @@ def bitonic_merge(array: list[int], low: int, length: int, direction: int) -> No
         bitonic_merge(array, low + middle, middle, direction)
 
 
-def bitonic_sort(array: list[int], low: int, length: int, direction: int) -> None:
+def bitonic_sort[T: Comparable](
+    array: list[T], low: int, length: int, direction: int
+) -> None:
     """
     This function first produces a bitonic sequence by recursively sorting its two
     halves in opposite sorting orders, and then calls bitonic_merge to make them in the
@@ -76,6 +88,22 @@ def bitonic_sort(array: list[int], low: int, length: int, direction: int) -> Non
     >>> bitonic_sort(arr, 0, 8, 0)
     >>> arr
     [145, 92, 34, 12, 0, -23, -121, -167]
+
+    >>> arr = ["banana", "apple", "cherry", "date"]
+    >>> bitonic_sort(arr, 0, 4, 1)
+    >>> arr
+    ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date']
+
+    >>> arr = [3, 1.5, 2, 4.5]
+    >>> bitonic_sort(arr, 0, 4, 1)
+    >>> arr
+    [1.5, 2, 3, 4.5]
+
+    >>> arr = [1, "two", 3, "four"]
+    >>> bitonic_sort(arr, 0, 4, 1)
+    Traceback (most recent call last):
+    ...
+    TypeError: '<' not supported between instances of 'str' and 'int'
     """
     if length > 1:
         middle = int(length / 2)
diff --git a/tests/test_sorts.py b/tests/test_sorts.py
index a4a8ed7411bf..aa869eb582a9 100644
--- a/tests/test_sorts.py
+++ b/tests/test_sorts.py
@@ -183,3 +183,18 @@ def test_bogo_sort_comparable_items() -> None:
 
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
         bogo_sort([1, "a"])
+
+
+def test_bitonic_sort_comparable_items() -> None:
+    from sorts.bitonic_sort import bitonic_sort
+
+    strings = ["banana", "apple", "cherry", "date"]
+    bitonic_sort(strings, 0, len(strings), 1)
+    assert strings == ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "date"]
+
+    numbers = [3, 1.5, 2, 4.5]
+    bitonic_sort(numbers, 0, len(numbers), 1)
+    assert numbers == [1.5, 2, 3, 4.5]
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        bitonic_sort([1, "two", 3, "four"], 0, 4, 1)