PHP Sorting Arrays

PHP - Array Sorting Functions

The items in an array can be sorted in alphabetical or numerical order, descending or ascending.

Here are the main PHP array sorting functions:

• sort() - sorts an indexed array in ascending order
• rsort() - sorts an indexed array in descending order
• asort() - sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the value
• ksort() - sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the key
• arsort() - sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the value
• krsort() - sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the key

PHP sort() - Sort Array in Ascending Order

The sort() function sorts an indexed array in ascending order.

Example

Sort the elements of the $cars array in ascending alphabetical order:

$cars = array("Volvo", "BMW", "Toyota");
sort($cars);
print_r($cars);

Example

Sort the elements of the $numbers array in ascending numerical order:

$numbers = array(4, 6, 2, 22, 11);
sort($numbers);
print_r($numbers);

PHP rsort() - Sort Array in Descending Order

The rsort() function sorts an indexed array in descending order.

Example

Sort the elements of the $cars array in descending alphabetical order:

$cars = array("Volvo", "BMW", "Toyota");
rsort($cars);
print_r($cars);

Example

Sort the elements of the $numbers array in descending numerical order:

$numbers = array(4, 6, 2, 22, 11);
rsort($numbers);
print_r($numbers);

PHP asort() and arsort() - Sort Associative Array (value)

The asort() function sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the value.

Example

Sort an associative array in ascending order, according to the value:

$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
asort($age);
print_r($age);

The arsort() function sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the value.

Example

Sort an associative array in descending order, according to the value:

$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
arsort($age);
print_r($age);

PHP ksort() and krsort() - Sort Associative Array (key)

The ksort() function sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the key.

Example

Sort an associative array in ascending order, according to the key:

$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
ksort($age);
print_r($age);

The krsort() function sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the key.

Example

Sort an associative array in descending order, according to the key:

$age = array("Peter"=>"35", "Ben"=>"37", "Joe"=>"43");
krsort($age);
print_r($age);

Complete PHP Array Reference

For a complete reference of all array functions, go to the PHP Array Reference.

The reference contains a brief description, and examples of use, for each function!