How to Sort an Array of Objects in Javascript

Using the sort method, we can sort the array of objects by the property of the object.

The sort method will change the persons array instead of creating a copy of it. sort works by reference not by value.

const persons = [
    {name: "John", age: 35},
    {name: "Steve", age: 24},
    {name: "Ben", age: 49}
]

Syntax

array.sort(function (arg1, arg2) {
    // arg1 is smaller than arg2 
    // example: (2-4) = negative (less than 0)
    if(arg1 < arg2) {
        return -1; // in ascending order
        // return 1; // in descening order
    } 
    // arg1 is larger than arg2
    // example: (6-2) = positive (greater than 0)
    else if (arg1 > arg2) {
        return 1; // in ascending order
         // return -1; // in descening order
    } 
    // arg1 is equal to arg2
    return 0;
} )

Sort the object by name

persons.sort((p1, p2) => {
    // to ignore the case sensitivity
    const arg1 = p1.name.toLowerCase();
    const arg2 = p2.name.toLowerCase();
    if(arg1 < arg2) {
        return -1;
    } else if (arg1 > arg2) {
        return 1;
    }
    return 0;
});
console.log(persons);

Output

[
    {"name":"Ben","age":49},
    {"name":"John","age":35},
    {"name":"Steve","age":24}
]

We have used arrow => function expression include in ES2015 instead of function. Both are correct.

Sort the object by age

persons.sort((arg1, arg2) => {
    return arg1.age - arg2.age; // for ascending order
    // return arg2.age - arg1.age; // for decending order
})
// Or use the short format
persons.sort((arg1, arg2) => arg1.age - arg2.age;)

console.log(persons);

Output

[
    {"name":"Steve","age":24},
    {"name":"John","age":35},
    {"name":"Ben","age":49}
]

---