How can I sort an alphanumerical Multidimensional Array in php?

Question

I have some json filenames in an multidimensional array, created like this: $files[] = array("name" => $file, "type" => "json") that I want to sort ascending like this:

1.File
2.File
3.File
10.File
11.File

If I order them using php sort($files) function they will be ordered like this:

1.File
10.File
11.File
2.File
3.File

If however I use natsort($files) that quote: orders alphanumeric strings in the way a human being would (php.net), I get a total mess:

3.File
2.File
10.File
1.File
11.File

Is there some better approach to order an array using php functions? Or do I have to build a custom sorting function. The server is running PHP 7.0.

Write custom callback function or [usort](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.usort.php) , split numeric part from file name, convert to int and use that to sort. — k0pernikus, Feb 02 '22 at 13:01
Am I missing something or does it seem to [work](http://sandbox.onlinephpfunctions.com/code/fd28fd42a6976e31d51683fd9ceedd082ac9cecd)? the keys simply need to be reset — Simone Rossaini, Feb 02 '22 at 13:05
Possible duplicate: https://stackoverflow.com/a/62275720/457268 — k0pernikus, Feb 02 '22 at 13:05
@SimoneRossaini, I forgot to mention it's an object array. I have updated the question. — snecserc, Feb 02 '22 at 13:07
@AlinCrescensCiurea Can you edit my example and share with us with correct data? — Simone Rossaini, Feb 02 '22 at 13:12
@SimoneRossaini sure. [here it is](http://sandbox.onlinephpfunctions.com/code/21baad3509d91130a2b024349c0b33f8e0c3401b) — snecserc, Feb 02 '22 at 13:17
Where is the object array? `$files` in the question is still a normal php array. — shingo, Feb 02 '22 at 13:21
`sort`ing function __DO NOT__ work with multidimensional arrays. Write your custom sort with `usort` as already mentioned. — u_mulder, Feb 02 '22 at 13:23
@shingo It's a multidimensional array. Sorry for labeling it incorrectly. — snecserc, Feb 02 '22 at 13:25
Please share more details, like the code you are currently using and a sample set of input data — Nico Haase, Feb 02 '22 at 13:28
Also, if the server is still running PHP 7.0, please plan to upgrade it. That branch has left security support three years ago! — Nico Haase, Feb 02 '22 at 13:29

Simone Rossaini · Accepted Answer · 2022-02-02T13:30:13.390

2

You use multidimensional array, as you can see PHP have an error (Array to string conversion), you need to use usort for that task like:

$array = array(
    array("name"=>'1.File', "type" => "json"),
    array("name"=>'2.File', "type" => "json"),
    array("name"=>'3.File', "type" => "json"),
    array("name"=>'10.File', "type" => "json"),
    array("name"=>'11.File', "type" => "json"),
    );
usort($array, function($a, $b) {
    return ($a['name'] > $b['name'])
           ? 1 
           : ($a['name'] < $b['name'])
             ? -1 
             : 0;
});
print_r($array);

Your fiddle edited

Reference:

usort

As @u_mulder suggest strnatcasecmp will improve the code like:

usort($array, function($a, $b) {
    return strnatcasecmp($a['name'], $b['name']);
});

Reference:

strnatcasecmp

edited Feb 02 '22 at 13:30

answered Feb 02 '22 at 13:22

Simone Rossaini

8,115
1
13
34

`return strcmp` probably? – u_mulder Feb 02 '22 at 13:25
@u_mulder Can you give me an example? Trying gives it to me wrong. – Simone Rossaini Feb 02 '22 at 13:27
1

My mistake, just `return strnatcasecmp($a['name'], $b['name']);` – u_mulder Feb 02 '22 at 13:27
@u_mulder Thanks for the advice, I never stop learning :) – Simone Rossaini Feb 02 '22 at 13:30
Thank you, @SimoneRossaini. This solution did the work. And indeed, @u_mulder, `strnatcasecmp` looks more elegent. :) – snecserc Feb 02 '22 at 13:38

How can I sort an alphanumerical Multidimensional Array in php?

1 Answers1