Sorting arrays numerically by object property value

Question

How would you sort this array with these objects by distance, so that you have the objects sorted from smallest distance to biggest distance?

[
  { distance: 3388, duration: "6 mins", from: "Lenchen Ave, Centurion 0046, South Africa" },
  { distance: 13564, duration: "12 mins", from: "Lenchen Ave, Centurion 0046, South Africa" },
  { distance: 4046, duration: "6 mins", from: "Lenchen Ave, Centurion 0046, South Africa" },
  { distance: 11970, duration: "17 mins", from: "Lenchen Ave, Centurion 0046, South Africa" }
]

The pattern for sorting by properties numerically is myarray.sort((a, b) => a.distance - b.distance). To sort lexicographically, use a.from.localeCompare(b.from). To sort descending instead of ascending, negate the return value (e.g. b.distance - a.distance instead of a.distance - b.distance). To sort numeric strings, optionally use Number. To sort by multiple properties, chain other sorts with ||, e.g. b.someNumber - a.someNumber || a.someString.localeCompare(b.someString). — Sebastian Simon
– Sebastian Simon, Commented Apr 10, 2022 at 11:49

Phil · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-22 07:24:19Z

255

Use Array.prototype.sort(), eg

myArray.sort((a, b) => a.distance - b.distance)

The sort() method accepts a comparator function. This function accepts two arguments (both presumably of the same type) and it's job is to determine which of the two comes first.

It does this by returning an integer

Negative (less-than zero): The first argument comes first
Positive (greater-than zero): The second argument comes first
Zero: The arguments are considered equal for sorting

When you're dealing with numeric values, the simplest solution is to subtract the second value from the first which will produce an ascending order result.

edited Nov 22, 2021 at 7:24

answered Oct 25, 2011 at 12:08

Phil

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2 Comments

Sebastian Simon Over a year ago

Alternative, using destructuring assignment: myArray.sort(({ distance: a }, { distance: b }) => a - b);.

Phil Over a year ago

@SebastianSimon that's not an alternative so much as it is the same thing but 10 characters longer syntactically. Potato / tomato

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