How to apply multiple orderby in linq query

Question

I want to apply order by on multiple columns some ascending and others are in descending order in LINQ. How can i do that?

Steven · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-20T09:34:57.783

32

var sortedCollection =
    from item in collection
    orderby item.Property1, item.Property2 descending, item.Property3
    select item;

edited May 20 '13 at 09:34

answered Jan 06 '11 at 09:52

Steven

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score 28 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 14 '14 at 15:39

28

Borrowing from 101 LINQ Samples:

orderby p.Category, p.UnitPrice descending

or as a Lambda:

products.OrderBy(p => p.Category).ThenByDescending(p => p.UnitPrice);

edited Feb 14 '14 at 15:39

CokoBWare

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answered Jan 06 '11 at 09:54

Adam Ralph · Answer 3 · 2011-10-13T16:27:38.073

8

Steven's answer will work, but I prefer method chaining to declarative LINQ syntax, e.g.

collection
    .OrderBy(e => e.Property1)
    .ThenByDescending(e => e.Property2)
    .ThenBy(e => e.Property3)

edited Oct 13 '11 at 16:27

answered Jan 06 '11 at 09:55

Adam Ralph

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Why would you want to do that? LINQ is much more readable than extension methods and lambda's. – Steven Jan 06 '11 at 12:39
9

I think it's a matter of preference. When reading/writing code I don't like having to make the context switch between method based C# code and declarative LINQ code. I find it easier to read and see what's going on when method chaining is used. Also, ultimately, the LINQ is converted to method calls by the compiler so I prefer to go straight to the horse's mouth and have my code more directly reflect the statements which are executed (JIT compiled) at runtime. – Adam Ralph Jan 06 '11 at 13:38

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 06 '11 at 09:55

1

should be simply a matter of stating

orderby x, y descending, z

see good old ms examples

answered Jan 06 '11 at 09:55

Kell

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 06 '11 at 10:13

For completeness and as an alternative to the other good answers here...

There is also an overload or OrderBy that takes an IComparer, if this is a common order pattern that you want, then you might like to create a class that imlements that and pass it to the orderby clause, let it handle the more complex ordering, that way its re-usable for when ever you are ordering your query the same way.

How to apply multiple orderby in linq query

5 Answers5

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