How to sort multidimensional array and preserve keys in PHP? [duplicate]

Question

I have two arrays that I need to sort A->Z but all numerical indexes need to be preserved. I have no idea how to approach this problem.

Note: In the $complex array, the order of the subarrays does not matter as long as their associated key is preserved and the subarray contents are sorted.

All keys must be preserved in both examples.

<?php

$simple = array(
    20 => 'Hello',
    10 => 'Cat',
    30 => 'Dog'
);


$complex = array(
    30 => array(
        5 => 'foo',
        10 => 'bar'
        ),
    10 => array(
        4 => 'a',
        1 => 'b'
        ),
    20 => array()
);

desired output

// simple
array(
    10 => Cat,
    30 => Dog,
    20 => Hello
)

// complex; order of top-level indexes (30, 10, and 20) is not important but the key *must* be preserved
array(
    30 => array(
        10 => bar,
        5 => foo,
        ),
    10 => array(
        4 => a,
        1 => b,
        ),
    20 => array()
)

asort? - php.net/manual/en/function.asort.php and uasort - php.net/manual/en/function.uasort.php — JohnP
– JohnP, Commented Jan 3, 2012 at 16:55

Jonathan Kuhn · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-03 17:02:02Z

5

asort

$simple = array(
    20 => 'Hello',
    10 => 'Cat',
    30 => 'Dog'
);
asort($simple);

$complex = array(
    30 => array(
        5 => 'foo',
        10 => 'bar'
        ),
    10 => array(
        4 => 'a',
        1 => 'b'
        ),
    20 => array()
);
array_walk($complex, 'asort');
print_r($complex);

edited Jan 3, 2012 at 17:02

answered Jan 3, 2012 at 16:56

Jonathan Kuhn

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2 Comments

Jonathan Kuhn Over a year ago

@naomik added code examples for both simple and complex. for complex use array_walk to iterate over the array which will call asort over each sub-array.

mickmackusa Feb 2 at 13:44

Why should native sorting functions be called by array_walk() with explicit sorting function parameters?

Jacob Pollack · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-03 16:57:46Z

0

I believe this is what you are looking for, the PHP 'asort' method:

http://php.net/manual/en/function.asort.php

answered Jan 3, 2012 at 16:57

Jacob Pollack

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1 Comment

mickmackusa Over a year ago

Pointing someone to the php manual can be done as a comment under the question instead of posting an answer.

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