PHP: sort() function

Last update on May 28 2022 12:18:31 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

PHP: Sort an array

The sort() function is used to sort array elements. Elements will be arranged from lowest to highest when this function has completed.

Version:

(PHP 4 and above)

Syntax:

sort(array_name, sorting_type)

Parameters:

Name	Description	Required / Optional	Type
array_name1	Specifies the array.	Required	Array
sorting_type	Sets the sorting behavior. Possible type : SORT_REGULAR - Compare items normally. SORT_NUMERIC - Compare items numerically. SORT_STRING - Compare items as strings. SORT_LOCALE_STRING - compare items as strings, based on the current locale.	Optional	Mixed*

*Mixed: Mixed indicates that a parameter may accept multiple (but not necessarily all) types.

Return value:

TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.

Value Type : Boolean.

Example:

<?php
$subject = array("Language",  "English", "Math", "History");
sort($subject);
foreach ($subject as $key => $val)
{
echo "subject[ " . $key . "] = " . $val . "<br />";
}
?>

Output:

subject[ 0] = English
subject[ 1] = History
subject[ 2] = Language
subject[ 3] = Math

Pictorial Presentation:

View the example in the browser

Practice here online :

See also

PHP Function Reference

Previous: sizeof
Next: uasort

PHP: Tips of the Day

How to Sort Multi-dimensional Array by Value?

Try a usort, If you are still on PHP 5.2 or earlier, you'll have to define a sorting function first:

Example:

function sortByOrder($a, $b) {
    return $a['order'] - $b['order'];
}

usort($myArray, 'sortByOrder');

Starting in PHP 5.3, you can use an anonymous function:

usort($myArray, function($a, $b) {
    return $a['order'] - $b['order'];
});

And finally with PHP 7 you can use the spaceship operator:

usort($myArray, function($a, $b) {
    return $a['order'] <=> $b['order'];
});

To extend this to multi-dimensional sorting, reference the second/third sorting elements if the first is zero - best explained below. You can also use this for sorting on sub-elements.

usort($myArray, function($a, $b) {
    $retval = $a['order'] <=> $b['order'];
    if ($retval == 0) {
        $retval = $a['suborder'] <=> $b['suborder'];
        if ($retval == 0) {
            $retval = $a['details']['subsuborder'] <=> $b['details']['subsuborder'];
        }
    }
    return $retval;
});

If you need to retain key associations, use uasort() - see comparison of array sorting functions in the manual

Ref : https://bit.ly/3i77vCC