How to sort multidimensional array using javascript

Code:

if( typeof helper == 'undefined' ) {
 var helper = { } ;
}

helper.arr = {
 /**
 * Function to sort multidimensional array
 * 
 * param {array} [arr] Source array
 * param {array} [columns] List of columns to sort
 * param {array} [order_by] List of directions (ASC, DESC)
 * returns {array}
 */
 multisort: function(arr, columns, order_by) {
 if(typeof columns == 'undefined') {
 columns = []
 for(x=0;x<arr[0].length;x++) {
 columns.push(x);
 }
 }

 if(typeof order_by == 'undefined') {
 order_by = []
 for(x=0;x<arr[0].length;x++) {
 order_by.push('ASC');
 }
 }

 function multisort_recursive(a,b,columns,order_by,index) { 
 var direction = order_by[index] == 'DESC' ? 1 : 0;

 var is_numeric = !isNaN(a[columns[index]]-b[columns[index]]);

 var x = is_numeric ? a[columns[index]] : a[columns[index]].toLowerCase();
 var y = is_numeric ? b[columns[index]] : b[columns[index]].toLowerCase();

 if(!is_numeric) {
 x = helper.string.to_ascii(a[columns[index]].toLowerCase(),-1),
 y = helper.string.to_ascii(b[columns[index]].toLowerCase(),-1);
 }

 if(x < y) {
 return direction == 0 ? -1 : 1;
 }

 if(x == y) {
 return columns.length-1 > index ? multisort_recursive(a,b,columns,order_by,index+1) : 0;
 }

 return direction == 0 ? 1 : -1;
 }

 return arr.sort(function (a,b) {
 return multisort_recursive(a,b,columns,order_by,0);
 });
 }
}

Example of use:

var peoples = [
 {name: 'Jean', lastname: 'Rodrigues', points: 30},
 {name: 'Sara', lastname: 'Hope', points: 30},
 {name: 'Igor', lastname: 'Leroy', points: 25},
 {name: 'Foo', lastname: 'Bar', points: 55}
];

// sort this list by points, if points is equal, sort by name.
var ranking = helper.arr.multisort(peoples, ['points', 'name'], ['DESC','ASC']);

console.log(ranking);

Result:

Name | Points
Foo | 55
Jean | 30
Sara | 30
Igor | 25

Related protips

Have a fresh tip? Share with Coderwall community!