PHP array_multisort() Function (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The array_multisort() is an inbuilt function in PHP which is used to sort multiple arrays at once or a multi-dimensional array with each individual dimension. With this function, one should remember that string keys will be maintained, but numeric keys will be re-indexed, starting at 0 and increases by 1.Syntax:

bool array_multisort($array1, sorting_order, sorting_type, $array2..)

Parameters: The array generally takes one parameter that is the array which needs to be sorted. But in addition, the function can take two more optional parameters sorting_order and sorting_type.

  1. $array1: This parameter specifies the array which we want to sort.
  2. sorting_order: This parameter specifies the order to use i.e. in ascending or descending order. The default value of this parameter is SORT_ASC. That is, sorting in ascending order. In order to sort in descending order we will have to set this parameter to SORT_DESC.
  3. sorting_type: This parameter specifies the sort options for the arrays and they are as follows:
    • SORT_REGULAR: Compare elements regularly(Standard ASCII).
    • SORT_NUMERIC: Compare elements as numeric-values.
    • SORT_STRING: Compare elements as string values.
    • SORT_LOCALE_STRING: Compare elements as string, based on the current locale.
    • SORT_NATURAL: Compare elements as strings using "natural ordering".
    • SORT_FLAG_CASE: Can be combined (bitwise OR) with SORT_STRING or SORT_NATURAL to sort strings case-insensitively. If we want to sort multiple arrays, we can pass them as parameters like array2,array2, array2,array3... followed by their sorting_order, sorting_type.

Return value: The array_multisort() function returns a boolean value. That is it will return TRUE on success and FALSE on failure.**Note:**If two members on comparing become equal, their relative order in sorted array is undefined. Below programs illustrate the array_multisort() function:Program 1:

php `

`

Output:

Array ( [0] => Bear [1] => Cat [2] => Dog [3] => Horse [4] => Lion [5] => Zebra )

Program 2:

php `

`

Output:

Array ( [0] => Cat [1] => Dog ) Array ( [0] => Missy [1] => Fido )

Program 3:

php `

`

Output:

Array ( [0] => Cat [1] => Dog [2] => Dog ) Array ( [0] => Missy [1] => Pluto [2] => Fido )

Reference:https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.array-multisort.php