PHP 5 Sorting Arrays

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

PHP - Sort Functions For Arrays

In this chapter, we will go through the following PHP array sort functions:
  • sort() - sort arrays in ascending order
  • rsort() - sort arrays in descending order
  • asort() - sort associative arrays in ascending order, according to the value
  • ksort() - sort associative arrays in ascending order, according to the key
  • arsort() - sort associative arrays in descending order, according to the value
  • krsort() - sort associative arrays in descending order, according to the key

Sort Array in Ascending Order - sort()

The following example sorts the elements of the $cars array in ascending alphabetical order:

Example

<?php
$cars = array("Volvo""BMW""Toyota");
sort($cars);
?>
The following example sorts the elements of the $numbers array in ascending numerical order:

Example

<?php
$numbers = array(4622211);
sort($numbers);
?>

Sort Array in Descending Order - rsort()

The following example sorts the elements of the $cars array in descending alphabetical order:

Example

<?php
$cars = array("Volvo""BMW""Toyota");
rsort($cars);
?>
The following example sorts the elements of the $numbers array in descending numerical order:

Example

<?php
$numbers = array(4622211);
rsort($numbers);
?>

Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Value - asort()

The following example sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the value:

Example

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35""Ben"=>"37""Joe"=>"43");
asort($age);
?>

Sort Array (Ascending Order), According to Key - ksort()

The following example sorts an associative array in ascending order, according to the key:

Example

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35""Ben"=>"37""Joe"=>"43");
ksort($age);
?>

Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Value - arsort()

The following example sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the value:

Example

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35""Ben"=>"37""Joe"=>"43");
arsort($age);
?>

Sort Array (Descending Order), According to Key - krsort()

The following example sorts an associative array in descending order, according to the key:

Example

<?php
$age = array("Peter"=>"35""Ben"=>"37""Joe"=>"43");
krsort($age);
?>