Array subclass prototype sort

Question

I'm curious how to go about implementing my own sort function on the Array object. Ignoring all the usual warnings/dangers about extending/overriding a built-in, consider this:

Array.prototype.sort = function() {
    this = mySortFunction(this);
    function mySortFunction(arr) { ... };
};

Inside the closure, this refers to the Array object [number, number2, number3, etc.]. How do I go about reassigning this to be the result of my internal sorting function? Is it possible?

I would like to be able to call someArray.sort() and not someArray = someArray.sort() — Clev3r
– Clev3r, Commented Dec 30, 2013 at 12:50
The native sort method mutates the array, you could make use of it. But I'd say don't do mutation, it's dangerous, counter-intuitive and can be the source of silly bugs, IMO. — elclanrs
– elclanrs, Commented Dec 30, 2013 at 13:05

marsze · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-30 13:50:43Z

1

Your solution seems a little redundant:

Array.prototype.sort = function() {
    this = mySortFunction(this);
    function mySortFunction(arr) {
        arr = yetAnotherSortFunction(arr)
        function yetAnotherSortFunction(arr2) {...}
        // and so on...
    };
};

If you really want to do it this way, why not reference your array directly in the first place:

Array.prototype.sort = function() {
    // your implementation:
    // for (var i = this.length, ...
    //     if (this[0] == ...
    //         this[i] = ...
    // ...
};

answered Dec 30, 2013 at 13:50

marsze

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2 Comments

Clev3r Over a year ago

Aha, I'm not sure why I didn't think of that. Early morning I guess? This makes things a bit trickier because I'm implementing a merge sort consisting of divide(arr) and merge(left, right). After I have the result of calling var sorted = divide(this), is there a clever way to update the this array to equal the new, sorted array?

marsze Over a year ago

To me, it feels wrong to do this, there must be a better way. However, you could have a look at this: stackoverflow.com/a/456996/2060966

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