Array sort() gives wrong answer in JavaScript

Question

I have intervals in an Array when I tried to use sort() to sort then it gives me wrong answer and could not able to sort it.. does someone have any idea how can I sort this. here is what I tried

array=["1050-3000","150-250","1-49","3001-9999","251-400","401-600","601-1049","50-149"]

When I sort it:- array.sort(); It gives me this answer:-

["1-49","1050-3000","150-250","3001-9999","251-400","401-600","601-1049","50-149"]

but what I expect is:-

["1-49","50-149","150-250","251-400","401-600","601-1049","1050-3000","3001-9999"]

Nope, your expectations are wrong ... Use the argument of .sort function to manipulate the order. — Teemu
– Teemu, Commented Feb 22, 2018 at 15:08
Also check this: asciitable.com When sorting strings alphabetically, this is the order of characters. Actually '-' preceeds numbers. — pcjuzer
– pcjuzer, Commented Feb 22, 2018 at 15:23
Array.sort() works as designed. Your array contains strings, it sorts them by their dictionary order. — axiac
– axiac, Commented Feb 22, 2018 at 15:25

Eddie · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-22 15:10:07Z

7

You have to split the string and compare the first element.

let array = ["1050-3000", "150-250", "1-49", "3001-9999", "251-400", "401-600", "601-1049", "50-149"];

array.sort((a, b) => a.split("-")[0] - b.split("-")[0]);

console.log(array);

answered Feb 22, 2018 at 15:10

Eddie

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gurvinder372 · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-22 15:11:07Z

2

You need to split, convert to Number and then compare

var arr = ["1-49","50-149","150-250","251-400","401-600",,"601-1049","1050-3000","3001-9999"];
arr.sort( ( a, b ) => ( 
     al = +a.split("-")[1],  //last of a, after split by -
     bf = +b.split("-")[0],  //first of b, after split by -
     al-bf ) );

answered Feb 22, 2018 at 15:11

gurvinder372

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Ele · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-22 15:19:41Z

2

Replace dashes and sort. You don't need to split to get an array and then access the first position.

var array=["1050-3000","150-250","1-49","3001-9999","251-400","401-600","601-1049","50-149"];

array.sort((a, b) => a.replace('-', '') - b.replace('-', ''));

console.log(array);

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edited Feb 22, 2018 at 15:19

answered Feb 22, 2018 at 15:11

Ele

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5 Comments

JustStartedProgramming Over a year ago

Can you please tell me what (a,b) does here and which value they took

Ele Over a year ago

@JustStartedProgramming a, b are the values within the array that will be compared, for example: a = "1050-3000" and b = "150-250", and so on.

JustStartedProgramming Over a year ago

and a.replace('-', '') - b.replace('-', '') here - is used to compair right?

Ele Over a year ago

@JustStartedProgramming basically to know is a > b, i.e: "10503000" > "150250" = true

JustStartedProgramming Over a year ago

I appreciate your explanation :)

besh · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-22 15:16:02Z

1

The sorting function is giving you the right output because they are strings, not numbers. You will have to write custom logic to handle this.

answered Feb 22, 2018 at 15:16

besh

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Comments

Abiud Orina · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-22 15:23:52Z

0

You have to split the dashes so as to compare the values in the array when using the array.sort(); function

Here, try this:

var array = ["1050-3000", "150-250", "1-49", "3001-9999", "251-400", "401-600", "601-1049", "50-149"];

array.sort((a,b) => a.split("-")[0] - b.split("-")[0]);

console.log(array);

answered Feb 22, 2018 at 15:23

Abiud Orina

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