Mastering Lodash Sort By: Sorting Arrays and Objects in JavaScript

Ruslan Osipov
Author: Ruslan Osipov

If you're working with arrays or objects in JavaScript, you may need to sort them at some point. While JavaScript has a built-in sort method, it can be limited in its functionality. That's where Lodash Sort By comes in. Lodash Sort By is a method in the Lodash library that allows you to sort arrays and objects in JavaScript by name, property, value, date, and more. In this article, we'll explore how to use Lodash Sort By to sort arrays and objects in JavaScript.

Lodash Sort By

What is Lodash Sort By?

Lodash Sort By is a method in the Lodash library that allows you to sort arrays and objects in JavaScript. It takes two arguments: the array or object to sort, and the property to sort by. You can also pass a custom function as the second argument to sort by a custom criteria.

Sorting Arrays with Lodash Sort By

To sort an array with Lodash Sort By, you can pass the array and the property to sort by as arguments. For example:

const array = [{ name: 'John', age: 30 }, { name: 'Jane', age: 25 }];
const sortedArray = _.sortBy(array, ['name']);
console.log(sortedArray);
// Output: [{ name: 'Jane', age: 25 }, { name: 'John', age: 30 }]

Sorting Objects with Lodash Sort By

To sort an object with Lodash Sort By, you need to convert it to an array first, sort the array, and then convert it back to an object. For example:

const object = { john: { age: 30 }, jane: { age: 25 } };
const sortedObject = _.fromPairs(_.sortBy(_.toPairs(object), [1]));
console.log(sortedObject);
// Output: { jane: { age: 25 }, john: { age: 30 } }

Sorting by Name, Property, Value, and Date

You can sort by name, property, value, and date with Lodash Sort By. For example:

const array = [{ name: 'John', age: 30 }, { name: 'Jane', age: 25 }];
const sortedArray = _.sortBy(array, ['name', 'age']);
console.log(sortedArray);
// Output: [{ name: 'Jane', age: 25 }, { name: 'John', age: 30 }]

const array = [{ name: 'John', age: 30 }, { name: 'Jane', age: 25 }];
const sortedArray = _.sortBy(array, [function(item) { return item.age * -1 }]);
console.log(sortedArray);
// Output: [{ name: 'John', age: 30 }, { name: 'Jane', age: 25 }]

const array = [{ name: 'John', date: '2021-01-01' }, { name: 'Jane', date: '2021-01-02' }];
const sortedArray = _.sortBy(array, [function(item) { return new Date(item.date).getTime() }]);
console.log(sortedArray);
// Output: [{ name: 'John', date: '2021-01-01' }, { name: 'Jane', date: '2021-01-02' }]

Using Functions with Lodash Sort By

You can use functions with Lodash Sort By to sort by custom criteria. For example:

const array = [{ name: 'John', age: 30 }, { name: 'Jane', age: 25 }];
const sortedArray = _.sortBy(array, [function(item) { return item.name.length }]);
console.log(sortedArray);
// Output: [{ name: 'Jane', age: 25 }, { name: 'John', age: 30 }]

Examples of Lodash Sort By in Action

Here are some examples of Lodash Sort By in action:

- Sorting an array of objects by name: _.sortBy(array, ['name'])

- Sorting an array of objects by age in descending order: _.sortBy(array, ['age', 'desc'])

- Sorting an array of objects by a custom function: _.sortBy(array, [function(item) { return item.name.length }])

Best Practices for Using Lodash Sort By

Here are some best practices for using Lodash Sort By:

- Use Lodash Sort By only when necessary.

- Avoid sorting large arrays or objects, as it can be slow.

- Test your code thoroughly to ensure it works as expected.

Sources:

Lodash website

FAQs

What is Lodash Sort By?

Lodash Sort By is a method in the Lodash library that allows you to sort arrays and objects in JavaScript.


How do I install Lodash?

You can install Lodash using npm or yarn. Run the command 'npm install lodash' or 'yarn add lodash' in your terminal.


How do I sort an array in ascending order with Lodash Sort By?

You can sort an array in ascending order with Lodash Sort By by passing the array and the property to sort by as arguments. For example: _.sortBy(array, [property])


How do I sort an object in ascending order with Lodash Sort By?

You can sort an object in ascending order with Lodash Sort By by converting it to an array first, sorting the array, and then converting it back to an object. For example: _.fromPairs(_.sortBy(_.toPairs(object), [1]))


How do I sort by multiple properties with Lodash Sort By?

You can sort by multiple properties with Lodash Sort By by passing an array of properties to sort by as the second argument. For example: _.sortBy(array, [property1, property2])


How do I sort by a custom function with Lodash Sort By?

You can sort by a custom function with Lodash Sort By by passing the function as the second argument. For example: _.sortBy(array, [function(item) { return item.property }])


How do I sort by date with Lodash Sort By?

You can sort by date with Lodash Sort By by passing a function that converts the date string to a timestamp as the second argument. For example: _.sortBy(array, [function(item) { return new Date(item.date).getTime() }])


How do I sort in descending order with Lodash Sort By?

You can sort in descending order with Lodash Sort By by passing the property and the string 'desc' as arguments. For example: _.sortBy(array, [property, 'desc'])


How do I use Lodash Sort By with nested objects?

You can use Lodash Sort By with nested objects by passing the nested property as a string with dot notation. For example: _.sortBy(array, ['nestedObject.property'])


What are some best practices for using Lodash Sort By?

Some best practices for using Lodash Sort By include using it only when necessary, avoiding sorting large arrays or objects, and testing your code thoroughly.