Sort an array of objects with string value in javascript

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Sort an array of objects with string value in javascript:

Sorting an array of objects in JavaScript is a common task, but when it comes to sorting based on string values, it requires a specific approach. In this blog post, we’ll explore different methods to sort an array of objects by their string properties.

Scenario:

Consider an array of objects, each containing a string property. Our goal is to sort this array based on the values of that string property.

const items = [
  { name: 'Banana' },
  { name: 'Apple' },
  { name: 'Orange' },
  { name: 'Grapes' },
];

Method 1: Using the ‘sort’ method with ‘localeCompare’

The ‘sort’ method is a built-in array method that allows you to sort the elements of an array in place. When sorting objects, you need to provide a custom comparison function.

const items = [
  { name: 'Banana' },
  { name: 'Apple' },
  { name: 'Orange' },
  { name: 'Grapes' },
];

const sortedItems = items.sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));

Explanation:

  • The ‘localeCompare’ method compares two strings and returns a number indicating their relative order.
  • This method considers locale-specific options, ensuring a consistent sorting result across different languages and regions.
Advantages:
  • Internationalization Support: ‘localeCompare’ is particularly useful when dealing with multilingual applications, as it takes into account language-specific rules for sorting.
  • Customization: You can customize the sorting behavior by adjusting parameters within the ‘localeCompare’ method, such as sensitivity to case or accents.

Method 2: Using the ‘Intl.Collator’ object

The ‘Intl.Collator’ object is part of the Internationalization API and provides more advanced string comparison options.

const collator = new Intl.Collator(undefined, { numeric: true, sensitivity: 'base' });
const sortedItems = items.sort((a, b) => collator.compare(a.name, b.name));

Explanation:

  • ‘Intl.Collator’ allows you to create a collation object with specific options, such as numeric sorting and sensitivity to case, accents, etc.
  • The ‘compare’ method of the collator object is then used as the comparison function in the ‘sort’ method.

Advantages:

  • Numeric Sorting: The ‘numeric’ option in ‘Intl.Collator’ ensures that numeric values within the strings are sorted numerically rather than lexicographically.
  • Fine-grained Control: You can tailor the collation object to match the specific requirements of your application, providing a high level of customization.

Conclusion:

Sorting an array of objects by string values in JavaScript involves utilizing either the ‘localeCompare’ method or the ‘Intl.Collator’ object. Both methods provide flexibility in handling different sorting scenarios, allowing you to customize the sorting behavior based on your specific requirements.

These techniques can be applied to various scenarios where sorting based on string values is necessary, providing a reliable and efficient solution for your JavaScript projects.