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4.1.4 Sorting Arrays

The elements in an array can be sorted in alphabetical or numerical order, descending or ascending.

PHP - Sort Functions For Arrays

In this chapter, we will go through the following PHP array sort functions:

sort() - sort arrays in ascending order
rsort() - sort arrays in descending order
asort() - sort associative arrays in ascending order, according to the value
ksort() - sort associative arrays in ascending order, according to the key
arsort() - sort associative arrays in descending order, according to the value
krsort() - sort associative arrays in descending order, according to the key

Sort Array in Ascending Order - sort()

The following example sorts the elements of the $cars array in ascending alphabetical order:

Example 1: PHP Arrays - Sorting Arrays part 1

<?php
$cars = array("Volvo", "BMW", "Toyota");
sort($cars);
?>

The following example sorts the elements of the $numbers array in ascending numerical order:

Example 2: PHP Arrays - Sorting Arrays part 2

<?php
$numbers = array(4, 6, 2, 22, 11);
sort($numbers);
?>

Sort Array in Descending Order - rsort()

The following example sorts the elements of the $cars array in descending alphabetical order:

Example 3: PHP Arrays - Sort Array in Descending Order rsort() part 1

<?php
$cars = array("Volvo", "BMW", "Toyota");
rsort($cars);
?>

The following example sorts the elements of the $numbers array in descending numerical order:

Example 4: PHP Arrays - Sort Array in Descending Order rsort() part 2

<?php
$numbers = array(4, 6, 2, 22, 11);
rsort($numbers);
?>

Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Value - asort()

The following example sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the value:

Example 5: PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Value asort()

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
asort($age);
?>

Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Key - ksort()

The following example sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the key:

Example 6: PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Key ksort()

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
ksort($age);
?>

Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Value - arsort()

The following example sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the value:

Example 7: PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Value arsort()

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
arsort($age);
?>

Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Key - krsort()

The following example sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the key:

Example 8: PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Key krsort()

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
krsort($age);
?>

Complete PHP Array Reference

For a complete reference of all array functions, go to the W3Schools.com complete PHP Array Reference.
The reference contains a brief description, and examples of use, for each function!

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Example files created in this module:
PHP Arrays Array Items PHP Arrays - Get The Length of an Array with The count() Function PHP Arrays - Change Value Indexed Arrays - Loop Through an Indexed Array PHP Arrays: Index Number part 1 PHP Arrays: Index Number part 2 PHP Arrays - Associative Arrays part 1 PHP Arrays - Associative Arrays part 2 PHP Arrays - Access Associative Arrays PHP Associative Arrays: Change Key's Value Associative Arrays - Loop Through an Associative Array part 1 Associative Arrays - Loop Through an Associative Array part 2 PHP Arrays - Two-dimensional Arrays PHP Arrays - Two-dimensional Arrays with for loop PHP Arrays - Sorting Arrays part 1 PHP Arrays - Sorting Arrays part 2 PHP Arrays - Sort Array in Descending Order rsort() part 1 PHP Arrays - Sort Array in Descending Order rsort() part 2 PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Value asort() PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Key ksort() PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Value arsort() PHP Arrays - Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Key krsort() PHP $GLOBALS PHP $_SERVER PHP $_REQUEST - Form Submission PHP $_POST - Form Submission Test Get PHP RegEx - Using preg_match() PHP RegEx - Using preg_match_all() PHP RegEx - Using preg_replace() PHP RegEx - Grouping