Sort multidimensional array alphabetically, by value and store it in a new variable

Question

I have the following array I want to sort by value, A to Z, and store in a new arary $atoz_people:

$people = (
 [0] => Array
    (
        [id] => 1
        [name] => Ken
    )

 [1] => Array
    (
        [id] => 2
        [name] => Anne
    )

 [2] => Array
    (
        [id] => 3
        [name] => Bob
    )

);

I used the "classic" asort($people):

$atoz_people = $people;
asort($atoz_people);
print_r($atoz_people);

It does not work, unfortunately. What shall I change in order to get the array below? Is it even possible?

$atoz_people = (
    [1] => Array
    (
        [id] => 2
        [name] => Anne
    )
    [2] => Array
    (
        [id] => 3
        [name] => Bob
    )
    [0] => Array
    (
        [id] => 1
        [name] => Ken
    )    

);

Possible duplicate of [Sort Multi-dimensional Array by Value](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2699086/sort-multi-dimensional-array-by-value) — , Jul 27 '17 at 09:21
First of all you have to define the problem. How do you know that *"it does not work"*? What is the expected output? And **why** is *that* the expected output and not the one you have now? — axiac, Jul 27 '17 at 09:21
It doesnt work cause its a multidimensional array. asort is for a normal array. You need usort. — Loko, Jul 27 '17 at 09:22
The solution to your exact problem is described in the documentation of [`array_multisort()`](http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-multisort.php). — axiac, Jul 27 '17 at 09:25
@axiac I am making a _select box_ out of it, I need the _options_ to be sorted. — Razvan Zamfir, Jul 27 '17 at 09:28
Of course they need to be sorted. But you failed to express the only thing that matters: the sorting criteria. They are sorted right now. They are sorted after you call `asort()`. They are probably also sorted in posted expected output. The criteria differ in each case and without clear sorting criteria your question is ambiguous. — axiac, Jul 27 '17 at 09:30
I would go one step back to the code that creates this array. I guess it fetches the data from the database. Work on that code and make it return a one-level array that associates the IDs to names. Then the sorting becomes trivial (and `asort()` works as expected). — axiac, Jul 27 '17 at 09:32
I have added link for demo also. It exactly gives what you want try it. @RazvanZamfir — B. Desai, Jul 27 '17 at 10:04

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 27 '17 at 10:27

1) Store the inital array in a new variable:

$atoz_people = $people;

2) Create sorting function:

function sort_by_name($a,$b)
{
    return $a["name"] > $b["name"];
}

3) Sort array

uasort($atoz_people,"sort_by_name");
print_r_html($atoz_people);

@B. Desai: many thanks!

B. Desai · Answer 2 · 2017-07-27T10:10:03.723

1

For multi dimensional you can use methods like usort or uasort

uasort($people,"sort_name");
var_dump($people);
function sort_name($a,$b)
{
  return $a["name"] > $b["name"];
}

check link

OR

link

edited Jul 27 '17 at 10:10

answered Jul 27 '17 at 09:39

B. Desai

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Sort multidimensional array alphabetically, by value and store it in a new variable

2 Answers2