How to sort an array of objects based on the numerical value of an object property?

Question

How to sort an array of objects based on the numerical value of an object property?

I have an array like this

var arr = [{ "name": "John", "age": "16" }, 
           { "name": "Charles", "age": "26" }, 
           { "name": "Charles", "age": "12" }, 
           { "name": "Charles", "age": "44" }, 
           { "name":"Charles", "age": "1" },
           { "name": "Charles", "age": "4"}]

The function i tried is

var sorted = yourArray.sort(function IHaveAName(a, b)
{ // non-anonymous as you ordered...
    return b.age < a.age ? 1 // if b should come earlier, push a to end
     : b.age > a.age ? -1 // if b should come later, push a to begin
     : 0;                   // a and b are equal
});

result obtained

[ { name: 'Charles', age: '1' },
{ name: 'Charles', age: '12' },
{ name: 'John', age: '16' },
{ name: 'Charles', age: '26' },
{ name: 'Charles', age: '4' },
{ name: 'Charles', age: '44' } ]

In that charles having age 4 should come at top.

where i am going wrong ?

javascript
node.js

Answer 1

Your ages are strings and are being sorted as such.

Run them through parseInt when you sort them if you want a numeric result.

var sorted = arr.sort(function IHaveAName(a, b)
{   var _a = parseInt(a.age, 10), _b = parseInt(b.age, 10);
    return _b < _a ? 1 // if b should come earlier, push a to end
     : _b > _a ? -1 // if b should come later, push a to begin
     : 0;                   // a and b are equal
});

Answer 2

Here's a pretty concise example!

var arr = [{x: '5'}, {x: '1'}, {x: '10'}, {x: '-1'}];
//=> [ { x: '5' },
//     { x: '1' },
//     { x: '10' },
//     { x: '-1' } ]

arr.sort(function(a,b) { return Number(a.x) - Number(b.x); });
//=> [ { x: '-1' },
//     { x: '1' },
//     { x: '5' },
//     { x: '10' } ]