How to Correctly Sort Strings in JavaScript?

Sorting Strings in JavaScript

Many JavaScript developers encounter challenges when attempting to sort a list of objects based on a string attribute due to the unique behaviors of strings in JavaScript. This article explores the solutions to this common issue.

Problem:

As you discovered, simply subtracting one string from another, as in a.attr - b.attr, does not accurately sort strings in JavaScript. This is because JavaScript treats strings as Unicode characters, and basic arithmetic operations are not suitable for comparing them.

Solution:

To sort strings effectively, you can utilize the String.prototype.localeCompare method. This method provides a locale-sensitive comparison of strings, making it more suitable for sorting. Here's an updated version of your code using localeCompare:

list.sort(function(a, b) {
    return ('' + a.attr).localeCompare(b.attr);
});

Note that we have added an empty string concatenation ('' a.attr) to ensure that both values are coerced into strings. This is to avoid potential exceptions.

Alternatives:

If you prefer a more succinct approach and don't need to consider locale-sensitivity, you can use the following code snippet:

if (item1.attr < item2.attr)
    return -1;
if ( item1.attr > item2.attr)
    return 1;
return 0;

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