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JavaScript sort() Method

Array Object Reference JavaScript Array Object

Example

Sort an array:

var fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
fruits.sort();

The result of fruits will be:

Apple,Banana,Mango,Orange

Try it yourself »

Definition and Usage

The sort() method sorts the items of an array.

The sort order can be either alphabetic or numeric, and either ascending or descending.

Default sort order is alphabetic and ascending.

Note: When numbers are sorted alphabetically, "40" comes before "5".

To perform a numeric sort, you must pass a function as an argument when calling the sort method.

The function specifies whether the numbers should be sorted ascending or descending.

It can be difficult to understand how this function works, but see the examples at the bottom of this page.

Note: This method changes the original array.

Browser Support

Internet Explorer Firefox Opera Google Chrome Safari

The sort() method is supported in all major browsers.

Syntax

array.sort(sortfunction)

Parameter Values

Parameter Description
sortfunction Optional. A function that defines the sort order

Return Value

Type Description
Array The Array object, with the items sorted

Technical Details

JavaScript Version: 1.1

More Examples

Example

Sort numbers (numerically and ascending):

var points = [40,100,1,5,25,10];
points.sort(function(a,b){return a-b});

The result of points will be:

1,5,10,25,40,100

Try it yourself »

Example

Sort numbers (numerically and descending):

var points = [40,100,1,5,25,10];
points.sort(function(a,b){return b-a});

The result of points will be:

100,40,25,10,5,1

Try it yourself »

Example

Sort numbers (alphabetically and descending):

var fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
fruits.sort();
fruits.reverse();

The result of points will be:

Orange,Mango,Banana,Apple

Try it yourself »

Array Object Reference JavaScript Array Object
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