Sorting array of objects by function in PHP

Question

Let's say I have an object called ACCOUNT like:

class ACCOUNT
{
private $contact;
public function getContact();
}

and another object CONTACT:

class CONTACT
{
   private $lastName;
   public function getLastName()
   {
      return $this->lastName;
   }
}

Then I create an array of these objects $accountArray = ACCOUNT::get(); How can I sort this array alphabetically by something like $account->getContact()->getLastName();?

What I've tried:

class Account
{
    private $contact;
    public function getContact();

    public static function cmp($a,$b)
    {
       $al = strtolower($a->getContact()->getLastName());
       $bl = strtolower($b->getContact()->getLastName());
       if ($al == $bl) {
       return 0;
       }
       return ($al > $bl) ? +1 : -1;
    }
    public static function sortByLastName($accountArray)
    {
       usort($moACOUNTArray, array('ACCOUNT', 'cmp'));
    }
}

But I get this error:

 Call to undefined method ACCOUNT::getContact()

How much have you tried yourself? It probably is a good idea to just do research and learn how to do this. Here is a start, the magic link — Nytrix
– Nytrix, Commented Feb 8, 2017 at 20:02
Sorry, I've tried usort, but there's just something I'm missing about how to set it up. — AlexHeuman
– AlexHeuman, Commented Feb 8, 2017 at 20:06
With only $contact variable, how do you expect being able to access the last name? If $contact is also a Class, please provide it. — Marc-Antoine Parent
– Marc-Antoine Parent, Commented Feb 8, 2017 at 20:07
The method must be static if it's intended to be called using the class-name alone. Or else an object will have to be created using which it could be invoked. Reference manual — Dhruv Saxena
– Dhruv Saxena, Commented Feb 8, 2017 at 20:09

aslawin · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-08 20:09:37Z

1

You can use usort function of PHP, like mentioned in comments. There is self-explaining example:

Try this code:

<?php

class ACCOUNT
{
    private $contact;
    public function getContact()
    {
        return $this->contact;
    }

    public function setContact($v)
    {
        $this->contact = $v;
    }
}

class CONTACT
{
    private $lastName;

    public function getLastName()
    {
        return $this->lastName;
    }

    public function setLastName($v)
    {
        $this->lastName = $v;
    }
}

//create data for testing
$c1 = new CONTACT;
$c1->setLastName('aaaa');
$a1 = new ACCOUNT;
$a1->setContact($c1);

$c2 = new CONTACT;
$c2->setLastName('zzz');
$a2 = new ACCOUNT;
$a2->setContact($c2);

$c3 = new CONTACT;
$c3->setLastName('ggg');
$a3 = new ACCOUNT;
$a3->setContact($c3);

$array = array($a1, $a2, $a3);


//making sort
function cmp($a, $b)
{
    return strcmp($a->getContact()->getLastName(), $b->getContact()->getLastName());
}

usort($array, "cmp");

//showing sort result
echo '<pre>';
print_r($array);

Result is:

Array
(
    [0] => ACCOUNT Object
        (
            [contact:ACCOUNT:private] => CONTACT Object
                (
                    [lastName:CONTACT:private] => aaaa
                )

        )

    [1] => ACCOUNT Object
        (
            [contact:ACCOUNT:private] => CONTACT Object
                (
                    [lastName:CONTACT:private] => ggg
                )

        )

    [2] => ACCOUNT Object
        (
            [contact:ACCOUNT:private] => CONTACT Object
                (
                    [lastName:CONTACT:private] => zzz
                )

        )

)

answered Feb 8, 2017 at 20:09

aslawin

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3 Comments

AlexHeuman Over a year ago

Whenever I try this I still get this error Call to undefined method moACCOUNT::getContact() in /controllers/accountController.php on line 37

aslawin Over a year ago

In code you've posted in question, in class ACCOUNT, function getContact() has no body. That is the problem. Check my ACCOUNT class. And try my code.

AlexHeuman Over a year ago

Sorry, this was a brain lapse on my part. I was supposed to be calling ACCOUNT->getPrimaryClinet()->getContact()->getLastName();

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