PHP array_multisort() Function
Example
Return a sorted array in ascending order:
<?php
$a=array("Dog","Cat","Horse","Bear","Zebra");
array_multisort($a);
print_r($a);
?>
Run example »
$a=array("Dog","Cat","Horse","Bear","Zebra");
array_multisort($a);
print_r($a);
?>
Definition and Usage
The array_multisort() function returns a sorted array. You can assign one or more arrays. The function sorts the first array, and the other arrays follow, then, if two or more values are the same, it sorts the next array, and so on.
Note: String keys will be maintained, but numeric keys will be re-indexed, starting at 0 and increase by 1.
Note: You can assign the sorting order and the sorting type parameters after each array. If not specified, each array parameter uses the default values.
Syntax
array_multisort(array1,sorting order,sorting type,array2,array3...)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| array1 | Required. Specifies an array |
| sorting order | Optional. Specifies the sorting order. Possible values:
|
| sorting type | Optional. Specifies the type to use, when comparing elements. Possible values:
|
| array2 | Optional. Specifies an array |
| array3 | Optional. Specifies an array |
Technical Details
| Return Value: | Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure |
|---|---|
| PHP Version: | 4+ |
| Changelog: | The sorting type SORT_NATURAL and SORT_FLAG_CASE were added in PHP 5.4. The sorting type SORT_LOCALE_STRING was added in PHP 5.3. |
More Examples
Example 1
Return a sorted array in ascending order:
<?php
$a1=array("Dog","Cat");
$a2=array("Fido","Missy");
array_multisort($a1,$a2);
print_r($a1);
print_r($a2);
?>
Run example »
$a1=array("Dog","Cat");
$a2=array("Fido","Missy");
array_multisort($a1,$a2);
print_r($a1);
print_r($a2);
?>
Example 2
See how it sorts when two values are the same:
<?php
$a1=array("Dog","Dog","Cat");
$a2=array("Pluto","Fido","Missy");
array_multisort($a1,$a2);
print_r($a1);
print_r($a2);
?>
Run example »
$a1=array("Dog","Dog","Cat");
$a2=array("Pluto","Fido","Missy");
array_multisort($a1,$a2);
print_r($a1);
print_r($a2);
?>
Example 3
Using sorting parameters:
<?php
$a1=array("Dog","Dog","Cat");
$a2=array("Pluto","Fido","Missy");
array_multisort($a1,SORT_ASC,$a2,SORT_DESC);
print_r($a1);
print_r($a2);
?>
Run example »
$a1=array("Dog","Dog","Cat");
$a2=array("Pluto","Fido","Missy");
array_multisort($a1,SORT_ASC,$a2,SORT_DESC);
print_r($a1);
print_r($a2);
?>
Example 4
Merge two arrays and sort them as numbers, in descending order:
<?php
$a1=array(1,30,15,7,25);
$a2=array(4,30,20,41,66);
$num=array_merge($a1,$a2);
array_multisort($num,SORT_DESC,SORT_NUMERIC);
print_r($num);
?>
Run example »
$a1=array(1,30,15,7,25);
$a2=array(4,30,20,41,66);
$num=array_merge($a1,$a2);
array_multisort($num,SORT_DESC,SORT_NUMERIC);
print_r($num);
?>
PHP Array Reference
