Sort php array by value compared to another array

Question

How can I sort an array based on another array? I'm speaking about the values, not the keys. I've found plenty of questions about how to sort the keys but none about the values.

Imagine I have this array :

$sizes = array("L", "XXXL", "M", "S");

How can I reorder these to be like this :

$newsizes = array("S", "M", "L", "XXXL");

based on a fixed human logical array like this one :

$sizeincrement = array("XS", "S", "M", "L", "XL", "XXL", "XXXL");

And considering elements that are not in the sizeincrement array should be appended at the end.

I thought this would exists as a ready-made sort function, but it appears it's not the case: PHP SORTING

array_intersect() will do the sort you need without resorting to custom functions or usort. See my answer. — Digital Chris
– Digital Chris, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 19:11
@DigitalChris Though it's debatable whether intersecting, then diffing, then merging arrays is really a more efficient approach than usort. =) — jszobody
– jszobody, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 19:13
@jszobody no, I think you missed the point. I ALSO answered his second part about "lements that are not in the sizeincrement array should be appended at the end." The single line array_intersect accomplished what the other answers did. — Digital Chris
– Digital Chris, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 19:14
Indeed the only wrong part is that elements not being present are prepended not appended 3v4l.org/C2LtC — Vincent Duprez
– Vincent Duprez, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 19:17

Digital Chris · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-08 19:08:56Z

1

Use of common array functions can accomplish this:

<?php
$sizes = array("L", "XXXL", "M", "S");

$sizeincrement = array("XS", "S", "M", "L", "XL", "XXL", "XXXL");

//this will give you the array you need in the order you need:
$sorted_array = array_intersect($sizeincrement,$sizes);

//now get the ones NOT in the array:

$missing_array = array_diff($sizeincrement,$sizes);

$final_array = array_merge($sorted_array, $missing_array);

var_dump($final_array);
?>

Here it is working: https://eval.in/87279

answered Jan 8, 2014 at 19:08

Digital Chris

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1 Comment

Vincent Duprez Over a year ago

Thanks Chris, this is the solution considering the last part of my question

parchambault · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-08 19:07:35Z

1

A custom function can do the job really quickly ! here is my guest

$sizes = array("L", "XXXL", "M", "S");

function sort_size($arr) {
    $out = array();

    foreach (array("XS", "S", "M", "L", "XL", "XXL", "XXXL") as $size) {
        if (in_array($size, $arr)) {
            $out[] = $size;
        }
    }

    return $out;
}

$newSizes = sort_size($sizes);

like that you can add or remove new sizes directly in the array in the foreach.

hope that help!

answered Jan 8, 2014 at 19:07

parchambault

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2 Comments

Vincent Duprez Over a year ago

I think your answer is missing the case of some values not present in the reference array, They will be lost. I could be wrong

Digital Chris Over a year ago

This gives the sorted $sizes, but doesn't append the missing elements to the end.

jszobody · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-08 19:47:38Z

1

You could do this with a custom usort callback function pretty easily. Something like this:

function compare($a, $b) {
    $sizeincrement = array("XS", "S", "M", "L", "XL", "XXL", "XXXL");
    if(!array_search($a, $sizeincrement)) return 1;
    if(!array_search($b, $sizeincrement)) return -1;
    return array_search($a, $sizeincrement) > array_search($b, $sizeincrement);
}

Then call:

usort($sizes, "compare");

Working example: http://3v4l.org/2Hp0g

edited Jan 8, 2014 at 19:47

answered Jan 8, 2014 at 19:06

jszobody

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4 Comments

Digital Chris Over a year ago

You forgot to add the ones NOT in the initial array at the end.

Digital Chris Over a year ago

@VincentDuprez no look at his output: it has only 4 elements.

Vincent Duprez Over a year ago

Upvoted your answer as it pointed me to the right path thanks, I will set Digital chris answer as correct answer as it is considering the missing elements..

jszobody Over a year ago

@VincentDuprez Had to step away for a sec, sorry. Glad to help at least show you the right path, I'd strongly encourage sorting functions for this. Updated my answer, it's trivial to add more logic if needed for things like extra elements (or anything else you might need to take into account).

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