sorting php array by value not working as expected

Question

I am getting this result after performing the following on an array. Shouldn't this be sorting by 'computer_name'? You will see they are not alpha order.

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

echo "<pre>";
print_r($test);
echo "</pre>";


Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [computer_id] => 367
            [account_id] => 1
            [computer_name] => EXAMPLE_ONE
            [last_username] => muah
            [timestamp] => 2014-01-01 17:06:04
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [computer_id] => 366
            [account_id] => 1
            [computer_name] => TESTING
            [last_username] => 
            [timestamp] => 2013-12-06 20:02:14
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [computer_id] => 365
            [account_id] => 1
            [computer_name] => JOE-SCHMOE
            [last_username] => 
            [timestamp] => 2013-12-06 20:02:03
        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [computer_id] => 18
            [account_id] => 1
            [computer_name] => SPORT-ONE
            [last_username] => 
            [timestamp] => 2012-10-16 03:31:22
        )

    [4] => Array
        (
            [computer_id] => 3
            [account_id] => 1
            [computer_name] => SPORT-TWO
            [last_username] => 
            [timestamp] => 2011-03-03 03:35:46
        )

)

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:33:26Z

1

I think the issue is that EXAMPLE_ONE - TESTING, or EXAMPLE_ONE - SPORT-ONE is always equal to 0.

You could try using strcasecmp here, or the case insensitive version strcmp

Actually, looking at the documentation for usort, there's an example right in there. Your example above would be something like

usort($test, function($a, $b) {
    return strcmp($a['computer_name'], $b['computer_name']);
});

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:33

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Mar 13, 2014 at 19:53

Parris Varney

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1 Comment

user756659 Over a year ago

Good find... that did the trick! I just assumed, but when you explain as you did it makes perfect sense why the results were happening. Thanks!

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