Sort alphabetically multi dimensional array by a sub value

Question

$arr=array(
    [0]=>array(
        [username]=>bsmith
        [name]=>Bob Smith
    )
    [1]=>array(
        [username]=>mjohnson
        [name]=>Mike Johnson
    )
    [2]=>array(
        [username]=>ameyer
        [name]=>Meyer Adam
    )
)

Need to natural (alphabetical) sort by a specific sub-value of the array.

If sort by "username" => => ameyer, bsmith, mjohnson

$arr=array(
    [0]=>array(
        [username]=>ameyer
        [name]=>Meyer Adam
    )
    [1]=>array(
        [username]=>bsmith
        [name]=>Bob Smith
    )
    [2]=>array(
        [username]=>mjohnson
        [name]=>Mike Johnson
    )

)

If sort by "name" => bsmith, ameyer, mjohnson

$arr=array(
    [0]=>array(
        [username]=>bsmith
        [name]=>Bob Smith
    )
    [1]=>array(
        [username]=>ameyer
        [name]=>Meyer Adam
    )
    [2]=>array(
        [username]=>mjohnson
        [name]=>Mike Johnson
    )
)

What is the most elegant way to do that?

Should I use uasort?

possible duplicate of How do I sort a multidimensional array in php — Ryan
– Ryan, Commented Jul 24, 2013 at 18:36

Geoffrey · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-24 18:47:12Z

2

You will need to use usort, which will both be the easiest and fastest method. You can just use the result code of strcmp to determine the alpha sort order.

function sortByUsername($a, $b) {
  return strcmp($a['username'], $b['username']);
}

usort($arr, sortByUsername);

edited Jul 24, 2013 at 18:47

answered Jul 24, 2013 at 18:36

Geoffrey

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15 Comments

ihtus Over a year ago

how uasort is working? what is $a and $b in this particular case?

Geoffrey Over a year ago

uasort calls sortByUsername with the two elements to compare. That said, I much prefer JimiDini's solution, it is much more flexable.

JimiDini Over a year ago

there is no need to use uasort. usort is enough, as the top-level array is not associative. Also see my answer for generic solution

JimiDini Over a year ago

@ihtus php engine will send pairs of various elements from your array there until it gets enough eveidence of how sorted array should look like

ihtus Over a year ago

so first time it sends pairs 0 and 1; then 1 ad 2?

|

JimiDini · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-24 18:42:54Z

2

$sorter = function($key) {
    return function($data, $data2) use ($key) {
        return strcmp($data[$key], $data2[$key]);
    };
};

usort($arr, $sorter('username'));
var_dump($arr);

usort($arr, $sorter('name'));
var_dump($arr);

answered Jul 24, 2013 at 18:42

JimiDini

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Comments

jh314 · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-24 18:39:33Z

0

You can use array_multisort:

foreach ($arr as $array) {
    $names[] = $array['name'];
}

array_multisort($names,SORT_STRING,$arr);
print_r($arr);

answered Jul 24, 2013 at 18:39

jh314

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