Lightweight (< 1.6kB gzipped) and performant natural sorting of arrays and collections by differentiating between unicode characters, numbers, dates, etc.
People sort strings containing numbers differently than most sorting algorithms, which sort values by comparing strings in Unicode code point order. This produces an ordering that is inconsistent with human logic.
natural-orderby
sorts the primitive values of Boolean
, Null
, Undefined
, Number
or String
type as well as Date
objects. When comparing strings it differentiates between unicode characters, integer, floating as well as hexadecimal numbers, various date formats, etc. You may sort flat or nested arrays or arrays of objects in a natural sorting order using natural-orderby
.
In addition to the efficient and fast orderBy()
method natural-orderby
also provides the method compare()
, which may be passed to Array.prototype.sort()
.
# npm
npm install natural-orderby --save
# yarn
yarn add natural-orderby
If you´re not using a module bundler or package manager there´s also a global ("IIFE") build hosted on the unpkg CDN. Simply add the following <script>
tag to the bottom of your HTML file:
<script src="https://unpkg.com/natural-orderby/dist/umd/natural-orderby.production.min.js"></script>
Once you've added natural-orderby
you will have access to the global window.naturalOrderBy
variable.
// Using ES modules
import { orderBy } from 'natural-orderby';
// Using CommonJS modules
// const { orderBy } = require('natural-orderby');
const users = [
{
username: 'Bamm-Bamm',
ip: '192.168.5.2',
datetime: 'Fri Jun 15 2018 16:48:00 GMT+0200 (CEST)'
},
{
username: 'Wilma',
ip: '192.168.10.1',
datetime: '14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 PDT'
},
{
username: 'Dino',
ip: '192.168.0.2',
datetime: 'June 15, 2018 14:48:00'
},
{
username: 'Barney',
ip: '192.168.1.1',
datetime: 'Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 GMT'
},
{
username: 'Pebbles',
ip: '192.168.1.21',
datetime: '15 June 2018 14:48 UTC'
},
{
username: 'Hoppy',
ip: '192.168.5.10',
datetime: '2018-06-15T14:48:00.000Z'
},
];
const sortedUsers = orderBy(
users,
[v => v.datetime, v => v.ip],
['desc', 'asc']
);
This is the return value of orderBy()
:
[
{
username: 'Dino',
ip: '192.168.0.2',
datetime: 'June 15, 2018 14:48:00',
},
{
username: 'Pebbles',
ip: '192.168.1.21',
datetime: '15 June 2018 14:48 UTC',
},
{
username: 'Bamm-Bamm',
ip: '192.168.5.2',
datetime: 'Fri Jun 15 2018 16:48:00 GMT+0200 (CEST)',
},
{
username: 'Hoppy',
ip: '192.168.5.10',
datetime: '2018-06-15T14:48:00.000Z',
},
{
username: 'Barney',
ip: '192.168.1.1',
datetime: 'Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 GMT',
},
{
username: 'Wilma',
ip: '192.168.10.1',
datetime: '14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 PDT',
},
];
Creates an array of elements, natural sorted by specified identifiers
and the corresponding sort orders
. This method implements a stable sort algorithm, which means the original sort order of equal elements is preserved.
It also avoids the high overhead caused by Array.prototype.sort()
invoking a compare function multiple times per element within the array.
orderBy<T>(
collection: ReadonlyArray<T>,
identifiers?: ReadonlyArray<Identifier<T>> | Identifier<T> | null,
orders?: ReadonlyArray<Order> | Order | null
locale?: string
): Array<T>
Type | Value |
---|---|
Identifier<T> |
keyof T | number | (value: T) => unknown |
Order |
'asc' | 'desc' | (valueA: unknown, valueB: unknown) => number |
orderBy()
sorts the elements of an array by specified identifiers and the corresponding sort orders in a natural order and returns a new array containing the sorted elements.
If collection
is an array of primitives, identifiers
may be unspecified. Otherwise, you should specify identifiers
to sort by or collection
will be returned unsorted. An identifier can be expressed by:
- an index position, if
collection
is a nested array, - a property name, if
collection
is an array of objects, - a function which returns a particular value from an element of a nested array or an array of objects. This function will be invoked by passing one element of
collection
.
If orders
is unspecified, all values are sorted in ascending order. Otherwise, specify an order of 'desc'
for descending or 'asc'
for ascending sort order of corresponding values. You may also specify a compare function for an order, which will be invoked by two arguments: (valueA, valueB)
. It must return a number representing the sort order.
If you want to sort unicode strings according to a specific locale, please provide a string value for locale
with a BCP 47 language tag. If the argument is unspecified, the host locale setting will be used.
Note:
orderBy()
always returns a new array, even if the original was already sorted.
import { orderBy } from 'natural-orderby';
// Simple numerics
orderBy(['10', 9, 2, '1', '4']);
// => ['1', 2, '4', 9, '10']
// Floats
orderBy(['10.0401', 10.022, 10.042, '10.021999']);
// => ['10.021999', 10.022, '10.0401', 10.042]
// Float & decimal notation
orderBy(['10.04f', '10.039F', '10.038d', '10.037D']);
// => ['10.037D', '10.038d', '10.039F', '10.04f']
// Scientific notation
orderBy(['1.528535047e5', '1.528535047e7', '1.528535047e3']);
// => ['1.528535047e3', '1.528535047e5', '1.528535047e7']
// IP addresses
orderBy(['192.168.201.100', '192.168.201.12', '192.168.21.1']);
// => ['192.168.21.1', '192.168.201.12', '192.168.21.100']
// Filenames
orderBy(['01asset_0815.png', 'asset_47103.jpg', 'asset_151.jpg', '001asset_4711.jpg', 'asset_342.mp4']);
// => ['001asset_4711.jpg', '01asset_0815.png', 'asset_151.jpg', 'asset_342.mp4', 'asset_47103.jpg']
// Filenames - ordered by extension and filename
orderBy(
['01asset_0815.png', 'asset_47103.jpg', 'asset_151.jpg', '001asset_4711.jpg', 'asset_342.mp4'],[v => v.split('.').pop(), v => v]
);
// => ['001asset_4711.jpg', 'asset_151.jpg', 'asset_47103.jpg', 'asset_342.mp4', '01asset_0815.png']
// Dates
orderBy(['10/12/2018', '10/11/2018', '10/11/2017', '10/12/2017']);
// => ['10/11/2017', '10/12/2017', '10/11/2018', '10/12/2018']
orderBy(['Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 3 May 2018 17:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:45:30 GMT']);
// => ['Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 15 Jun 2018 20:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 3 May 2018 17:45:30 GMT']
// Money
orderBy(['$102.00', '$21.10', '$101.02', '$101.01']);
// => ['$21.10', '$101.01', '$101.02', '$102.00']
// Case-insensitive sort order
orderBy(['A', 'C', 'E', 'b', 'd', 'f']);
// => ['A', 'b', 'C', 'd', 'E', 'f']
// Default ascending sort order
orderBy(['a', 'c', 'f', 'd', 'e', 'b']);
// => ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']
// Descending sort order
orderBy(['a', 'c', 'f', 'd', 'e', 'b'], null, ['desc']);
// => ['f', 'e', 'd', 'c', 'b', 'a']
// Custom compare function
orderBy([2, 1, 5, 8, 6, 9], null, [(valueA, valueB) => valueA - valueB]);
// => [1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9]
// collections
const users = [
{
username: 'Bamm-Bamm',
ip: '192.168.5.2',
datetime: 'Fri Jun 15 2018 16:48:00 GMT+0200 (CEST)'
},
{
username: 'Wilma',
ip: '192.168.10.1',
datetime: '14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 PDT'
},
{
username: 'Dino',
ip: '192.168.0.2',
datetime: 'June 15, 2018 14:48:00'
},
{
username: 'Barney',
ip: '192.168.1.1',
datetime: 'Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 GMT'
},
{
username: 'Pebbles',
ip: '192.168.1.21',
datetime: '15 June 2018 14:48 UTC'
},
{
username: 'Hoppy',
ip: '192.168.5.10',
datetime: '2018-06-15T14:48:00.000Z'
},
];
orderBy(
users,
[v => v.datetime, v => v.ip],
['desc', 'asc']
);
// => [
// {
// username: 'Dino',
// ip: '192.168.0.2',
// datetime: 'June 15, 2018 14:48:00',
// },
// {
// username: 'Pebbles',
// ip: '192.168.1.21',
// datetime: '15 June 2018 14:48 UTC',
// },
// {
// username: 'Bamm-Bamm',
// ip: '192.168.5.2',
// datetime: 'Fri Jun 15 2018 16:48:00 GMT+0200 (CEST)',
// },
// {
// username: 'Hoppy',
// ip: '192.168.5.10',
// datetime: '2018-06-15T14:48:00.000Z',
// },
// {
// username: 'Barney',
// ip: '192.168.1.1',
// datetime: 'Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 GMT',
// },
// {
// username: 'Wilma',
// ip: '192.168.10.1',
// datetime: '14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 PDT',
// },
// ]
Creates a compare function that defines the natural sort order and which may be passed to Array.prototype.sort()
.
compare(options?: CompareOptions): CompareFn
Type | Value |
---|---|
CompareOptions |
{ order?: 'asc' | 'desc', locale?: string } |
CompareFn |
(valueA: unknown, valueB: unknown) => number |
compare()
returns a compare function that defines the natural sort order and which may be passed to Array.prototype.sort()
.
If options
or its property order
is unspecified, values are sorted in ascending sort order. Otherwise, specify an order of 'desc'
for descending or 'asc'
for ascending sort order of values.
If unicode strings should be ordered corresponding to a specific locale setting, specify the according value for the options property locale
. It must be a string with a BCP 47 language tag. If the argument is unspecified, the host locale setting will be used.
import { compare } from 'natural-orderby';
// Simple numerics
['10', 9, 2, '1', '4'].sort(compare());
// => ['1', 2, '4', 9, '10']
// Floats
['10.0401', 10.022, 10.042, '10.021999'].sort(compare());
// => ['10.021999', 10.022, '10.0401', 10.042]
// Float & decimal notation
['10.04f', '10.039F', '10.038d', '10.037D'].sort(compare());
// => ['10.037D', '10.038d', '10.039F', '10.04f']
// Scientific notation
['1.528535047e5', '1.528535047e7', '1.528535047e3'].sort(compare());
// => ['1.528535047e3', '1.528535047e5', '1.528535047e7']
// IP addresses
['192.168.201.100', '192.168.201.12', '192.168.21.1'].sort(compare());
// => ['192.168.21.1', '192.168.201.12', '192.168.21.100']
// Filenames
['01asset_0815.jpg', 'asset_47103.jpg', 'asset_151.jpg', '001asset_4711.jpg', 'asset_342.mp4'].sort(compare());
// => ['001asset_4711.jpg', '01asset_0815.jpg', 'asset_151.jpg', 'asset_342.mp4', 'asset_47103.jpg']
// Dates
['10/12/2018', '10/11/2018', '10/11/2017', '10/12/2017'].sort(compare());
// => ['10/11/2017', '10/12/2017', '10/11/2018', '10/12/2018']
['Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 3 May 2018 17:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:45:30 GMT'].sort(compare());
// => ['Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 15 Jun 2018 20:45:30 GMT', 'Thu, 3 May 2018 17:45:30 GMT']
// Money
['$102.00', '$21.10', '$101.02', '$101.01'].sort(compare());
// => ['$21.10', '$101.01', '$101.02', '$102.00']
// Case-insensitive sort order
['A', 'C', 'E', 'b', 'd', 'f'].sort(compare());
// => ['A', 'b', 'C', 'd', 'E', 'f']
// Default ascending sort order
['a', 'c', 'f', 'd', 'e', 'b'].sort(compare());
// => ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']
// Descending sort order
['a', 'c', 'f', 'd', 'e', 'b'].sort(compare({ order: 'desc' }));
// => ['f', 'e', 'd', 'c', 'b', 'a']
// collections
const users = [
{
username: 'Bamm-Bamm',
lastLogin: {
ip: '192.168.5.2',
datetime: 'Fri Jun 15 2018 16:48:00 GMT+0200 (CEST)'
},
},
{
username: 'Wilma',
lastLogin: {
ip: '192.168.10.1',
datetime: '14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 PDT'
},
},
{
username: 'Dino',
lastLogin: {
ip: '192.168.0.2',
datetime: 'June 15, 2018 14:48:00'
},
},
{
username: 'Barney',
lastLogin: {
ip: '192.168.1.1',
datetime: 'Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 GMT'
},
},
{
username: 'Pebbles',
lastLogin: {
ip: '192.168.1.21',
datetime: '15 June 2018 14:48 UTC'
},
},
{
username: 'Hoppy',
lastLogin: {
ip: '192.168.5.10',
datetime: '2018-06-15T14:48:00.000Z'
},
},
];
users.sort((a, b) => compare()(a.lastLogin.ip, b.lastLogin.ip));
// => [
// {
// username: 'Dino',
// lastLogin: {
// ip: '192.168.0.2',
// datetime: 'June 15, 2018 14:48:00'
// },
// },
// {
// username: 'Barney',
// lastLogin: {
// ip: '192.168.1.1',
// datetime: 'Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 GMT'
// },
// },
// {
// username: 'Pebbles',
// lastLogin: {
// ip: '192.168.1.21',
// datetime: '15 June 2018 14:48 UTC'
// },
// },
// {
// username: 'Bamm-Bamm',
// lastLogin: {
// ip: '192.168.5.2',
// datetime: 'Fri Jun 15 2018 16:48:00 GMT+0200 (CEST)'
// },
// },
// {
// username: 'Hoppy',
// lastLogin: {
// ip: '192.168.5.10',
// datetime: '2018-06-15T14:48:00.000Z'
// },
// },
// {
// username: 'Wilma',
// lastLogin: {
// ip: '192.168.10.1',
// datetime: '14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 PDT'
// },
// },
// ]
natural-orderby
is completely written in TypeScript and provides TypeScript declarations.
Inspired by The Alphanum Algorithm from Dave Koelle.
Licensed under the MIT License, Copyright © 2018 - present Olaf Ennen.
See LICENSE for more information.