TypedArray.prototype.sort()

The sort() method of {{jsxref("TypedArray")}} instances sorts the elements of a typed array in place and returns the reference to the same typed array, now sorted. This method has the same algorithm as {{jsxref("Array.prototype.sort()")}}, except that it sorts the values numerically instead of as strings by default.

{{InteractiveExample("JavaScript Demo: TypedArray.prototype.sort()", "shorter")}}

```js interactive-example const uint8 = new Uint8Array([40, 10, 50, 20, 30]); uint8.sort();

console.log(uint8); // Expected output: Uint8Array [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]

## Syntax

```js-nolint
sort()
sort(compareFn)

Parameters#

• compareFn {{optional_inline}}

• : A function that determines the order of the elements. The function is called with the following arguments:

  • a
  • : The first element for comparison.
  • b
  • : The second element for comparison.

  It should return a number where: - A negative value indicates that a should come before b. - A positive value indicates that a should come after b. - Zero or NaN indicates that a and b are considered equal.

  To memorize this, remember that (a, b) => a - b sorts numbers in ascending order.

  If omitted, the typed array elements are sorted according to numeric value.

Return value#

The reference to the original typed array, now sorted. Note that the typed array is sorted in place, and no copy is made.

Description#

See {{jsxref("Array.prototype.sort()")}} for more details. This method is not generic and can only be called on typed array instances.

Examples#

Using sort()#

For more examples, see also the {{jsxref("Array.prototype.sort()")}} method.

let numbers = new Uint8Array([40, 1, 5, 200]);
numbers.sort();
// Uint8Array [ 1, 5, 40, 200 ]
// Unlike plain Arrays, a compare function is not required
// to sort the numbers numerically.

// Regular Arrays require a compare function to sort numerically:
numbers = [40, 1, 5, 200];
numbers.sort();
// [1, 200, 40, 5]

numbers.sort((a, b) => a - b); // compare numbers
// [ 1, 5, 40, 200 ]

Specifications#

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility#

{{Compat}}

See also#

• Polyfill of TypedArray.prototype.sort with modern behavior like stable sort in core-js
• JavaScript typed arrays guide
• {{jsxref("TypedArray")}}
• {{jsxref("TypedArray.prototype.reverse()")}}
• {{jsxref("TypedArray.prototype.toSorted()")}}
• {{jsxref("Array.prototype.sort()")}}