sorting arrays - need explaination

corporateboy

Okay, i have the manual and see that to use sort() the following is spat our

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Manual Output
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void sort (array array [, int sort_flags])

This function sorts an array. Elements will be arranged from lowest to highest when this function has completed. Example 1. Sort() example

<?php

$fruits = array ("lemon", "orange", "banana", "apple");
sort ($fruits);
reset ($fruits);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($fruits)) {
echo "fruits[".$key."] = ".$val;
}

This example would display:

fruits[0] = apple
fruits[1] = banana
fruits[2] = lemon
fruits[3] = orange

The fruits have been sorted in alphabetical order.
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now this is all dandy, but it makes absolutely no sense to me. I have a simple string of two items, i explode it into an array

say
$string[0]="michael"
$string[1]="katrina"

Can someone explain in plain english exactly what all the bits of the sorting function does and how I can use it to reorder the array in alphabetical order.

eg (example above end product should be)
$string[0]="katrina"
$string[1]="michael"

any help will be greatly appreciated.

mike

mithril

I'm not sure how much more explanatory the action of the sort() function can be made.... but here goes.

The manual example:

Line 1: this creates the $fruits array with the variables in random order
Line 2: sort() reads through the array and rearranges the order of the elements by sorting the value of said elements

 The order of sort is:

  1st -> numbers
  2nd -> uppercase letters
  3rd -> non-letter alphanumerics (ie. the underscore, etc.)
  4th -> lowercase letters

 You can change the order of sort using the optional arg. mentioned in the manual, but I won't get into that.

Line 3: reset() sets the array's internal pointer back to 0 (at the end of sort() the pointer will be on the last element)

Lines 4 - 6: a simple loop designed to print sorted array (to prove it was sorted in the eaxmple)

Calling sort() then reset() on the array you're creating with the explode() call will result in the same type of sorting as the example, thus alphabetizing your $string array. HTH.

-geoff

mithril

On second thought, perhaps this example will give you a clearer idea of what's happening and it will let you compare the sorted and unsorted array's side by side.

<?php

  $array = array (
    "aa",
    "ag",
   &nbsp"DD45FG"
    "ar",
    "ab",
   &nbsp"_45DQ",
    "az",
   &nbsp"zdfg2354d_f",
    "aD",
    "a_e",
    "a4",
    "a64",
   &nbsp"fg54<>3s";
    "a9",
    "abhd",
   &nbsp"a61",
   &nbsp"h46s",
 &nbsp😉;

  echo "<table cellpadding=6 border=1>\n";
  echo "<tr>\n";
  echo "<th>Unsorted Array</th>\n";
  echo "<th>Sorted Array</th>\n";
  echo "</tr>\n";
  echo "<tr>\n";
  echo "<td align=left valign=top>\n";

  while (list ($key, $element) = each ($array)) {
    echo "array[".$key."] = ".$element ."<br>\n";
  }

  echo "</td>\n";
  echo "<td align=left valign=top>\n";

  sort ($array);
  reset ($array);

  while (list ($key, $element) = each ($array)) {
    echo "array[".$key."] = ".$element ."<br>\n";
  }

  echo "</td>\n";
  echo "</tr>\n";
  echo "</table>\n";

-geoff