PHP Array Sorting

Sorting arrays is an important task when dealing with data in PHP. You can sort numerical, string, and associative arrays using PHP’s built-in functions.

🔹 Sorting an Indexed Array

Use sort() to arrange an array in ascending order.

<?php
$numbers = array(8, 3, 5, 1, 9);
sort($numbers);
print_r($numbers);
?>

Output: Array ( [0] => 1 [1] => 3 [2] => 5 [3] => 8 [4] => 9 )

🔹 Sorting in Descending Order

Use rsort() to sort an array in descending order.

<?php
$letters = array("Z", "M", "A", "K");
rsort($letters);
print_r($letters);
?>

Output: Array ( [0] => Z [1] => M [2] => K [3] => A )

🔹 Sorting an Associative Array by Values

Use asort() to sort an associative array by values while keeping key-value pairs intact.

<?php
$ages = array("Alice" => 25, "Bob" => 20, "Charlie" => 30);
asort($ages);
print_r($ages);
?>

Output: Array ( [Bob] => 20 [Alice] => 25 [Charlie] => 30 )

🔹 Sorting an Associative Array by Keys

Use ksort() to sort an associative array by keys alphabetically.

<?php
$students = array("David" => 85, "Alice" => 92, "Bob" => 78);
ksort($students);
print_r($students);
?>

Output: Array ( [Alice] => 92 [Bob] => 78 [David] => 85 )

🔹 Sorting in Reverse Order

Use arsort() for values and krsort() for keys in reverse order.

<?php
$points = array("Player1" => 50, "Player2" => 80, "Player3" => 40);
arsort($points);
print_r($points);
?>

Output: Array ( [Player2] => 80 [Player1] => 50 [Player3] => 40 )

🎯 Key Takeaways

• sort() – Sorts an indexed array in ascending order.
• rsort() – Sorts an indexed array in descending order.
• asort() – Sorts an associative array by values (ascending).
• arsort() – Sorts an associative array by values (descending).
• ksort() – Sorts an associative array by keys (ascending).
• krsort() – Sorts an associative array by keys (descending).

📝 Practice Time!

Try creating an array of your favorite pizza toppings 🍕, then use different sorting methods to arrange them by name or popularity!