Sorting JavaScript Arrays in Numerical Order

sort_js_arrays.md

Sorting JavaScript Arrays in Numerical Order

I do not understand why this is was so difficult to figure out.

You'll need Underscore.js to play along at home.

Start with an array like

var sizes = [4, 1, 10, 8];

If you just use JavaScript's built in .sort() method, you'll end up with

sizes.sort();
// results in [1, 10, 4, 8]

This is because it sorts lexicographically by default. Why? Because it (doesn't) love you.

Here's how to do it using Underscore's sortBy method:

sizes = _.sortBy( sizes, function( val ){ return val; } );
// results in [1, 4, 8, 10]

Why does this work? I'm not sure. Ask your dad.

Source

• Stack Overflow

previous location

This is a Solutions Log post.

You don't need a third party library to do it. Just do :

var sizes = [4, 1, 10, 8];
sizes.sort(function(a,b) { return a>b }); // -> [1, 4, 8, 10]

But watch out for NaN!

Array.prototype.sort mutates original array, so it could be bad in some situations

Try natural sort,
it will fit most of your usages.
https://github.com/eladkarako/sort/blob/594a531034ebf527c8f300b2852024035f1aced0/index.html#L111-L125
it will support both numeric, US-ASCII - even an extended Unicode, correctly (by using localeCompare inside).

a live example: https://sort.eladkarako.com/ (it is a line-based sort&unique)