Javascript sort an array of arrays by child array

Question

How can I sort an array of arrays by the second element which is also an array that contains only one element?

For example, the following array

array = [
    ["text", ["bcc"], [2]],
    ["text", ["cdd"], [3]],
    ["text", ["aff"], [1]],
    ["text", ["zaa"], [5]],
    ["text", ["d11"], [4]]
];

Should be sorted as follows:

sorted_array = [
    ["text", ["aff"], [1]],
    ["text", ["bcc"], [2]],
    ["text", ["cdd"], [3]],
    ["text", ["d11"], [4]],
    ["text", ["zaa"], [5]]
];

I see 3 level of arrays here. if it is single value why child 'bcc' is in array. it is possible it may have more values? — Khaleel
– Khaleel, Commented Feb 15, 2017 at 13:57
would you like to sort with ['bcc'] or with the number [2]? — Nina Scholz
– Nina Scholz, Commented Feb 15, 2017 at 14:04
@NinaScholz I need the array to be sorted in alphabetical order depending on the second element from each array — Valip
– Valip, Commented Feb 15, 2017 at 14:06

Mihai Alexandru-Ionut · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-15 13:58:32Z

2

You should use .sort() method which accepts a callback function.

Also, you have to use .localeCompare method in order to compare two strings.

array = [
    ["text", ["bcc"], [1]],
    ["text", ["cdd"], [1]],
    ["text", ["aff"], [1]],
    ["text", ["zaa"], [1]],
    ["text", ["d11"], [1]]
];
var sortedArray=array.sort(callback);
function callback(a,b){
  return a[1][0].localeCompare(b[1][0]);
}
console.log(sortedArray);

answered Feb 15, 2017 at 13:58

Mihai Alexandru-Ionut

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Comments

Nenad Vracar · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-15 13:57:50Z

2

You can use sort() method like this.

var array = [
    ["text", ["bcc"], [1]],
    ["text", ["cdd"], [1]],
    ["text", ["aff"], [1]],
    ["text", ["zaa"], [1]],
    ["text", ["d11"], [1]]
];

var result = array.sort((a, b) => a[1][0].localeCompare(b[1][0]))
console.log(result)

answered Feb 15, 2017 at 13:57

Nenad Vracar

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1 Comment

gjonte Over a year ago

what if you wanna sort based on all the element of the array, is there a shortcut?

Khaleel · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-15 14:03:05Z

2

You can achieve it by passing compared child level array in array sort function

array = [
    ["text", ["bcc"], [1]],
    ["text", ["cdd"], [1]],
    ["text", ["aff"], [1]],
    ["text", ["zaa"], [1]],
    ["text", ["d11"], [1]]
];

function Comparator(a, b) {
   if (a[1] < b[1]) return -1;
   if (a[1] > b[1]) return 1;
   return 0;
}

array = array.sort(Comparator);
console.log(array);

Hope it helps

answered Feb 15, 2017 at 14:03

Khaleel

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Comments

Nina Scholz · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-15 14:18:39Z

2

You could sort the nested elements with String#localeCompare.

var array = [["text", ["bcc"], [2]], ["text", ["cdd"], [3]], ["text", ["aff"], [1]], ["text", ["zaa"], [5]], ["text", ["d11"], [4]]];

array.sort(function (a, b) {
    return a[1][0].localeCompare(b[1][0]);
});

console.log(array);

.as-console-wrapper { max-height: 100% !important; top: 0; }

edited Feb 15, 2017 at 14:18

answered Feb 15, 2017 at 14:01

Nina Scholz

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Comments

searlea · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-15 14:08:02Z

1

(Only for modern JavaScript engines)

array.sort(([,[a]], [,[b]]) => a.localeCompare(b))

answered Feb 15, 2017 at 14:08

searlea

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Comments

tymeJV · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-15 13:57:35Z

0

You can do:

array.sort(function(a, b) { 
    if (a[1][0] > b[1][0])
        return 1;
    else if (a[1][0] < b[1][0])
        return -1;
    return 0; 
});

answered Feb 15, 2017 at 13:57

tymeJV

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