Sorting Entities with a Custom Function in JavaScript

Discover how to efficiently sort a list of entities using a custom sort function in JavaScript with clear examples and explanations.
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How to Sort a List of Entities Once per Custom Sort Function in the Right Order

Sorting data is a fundamental task in programming, and it can often become complex when dealing with various entity types that require distinct sorting methods. This guide will help you understand how to sort a list of entities using custom sort functions in JavaScript.

The Problem

Imagine you have a collection of unsorted entities - these can be people, cars, houses, etc. Each of these entities has different fields, and you want to sort them based on custom criteria depending on their type. The challenge lies in the fact that the sort functions for each type are provided as strings and can be very different, making it difficult to implement a one-size-fits-all sorting approach.

Here's what the unsorted entities might look like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

And the sources providing sorting criteria might look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

To effectively sort the entities, we can implement a structured approach that utilizes custom comparators and organizes our entities based on their type and sorting criteria.

1. Define Custom Comparators

First, we define custom comparators that will dictate how each entity type should be sorted. This might look like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

For the car type, which lacks a specific sorting function, we can still define one if needed:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Create a Mapping Object

Next, we create a mapping object that links each entity type with its associated sorting index and comparator:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

3. Sorting Logic

With the mapping in place, we can now sort our entities in a structured way. The logic will involve:

Sorting by the assigned index.

If indices are equal (or both are -Infinity), then it sorts based on the type name.

If the types are the same, the custom comparator is applied.

Here's the complete function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

4. Considerations for Custom Functions

In cases where the original columns array cannot be altered, leveraging eval to dynamically create comparators from pass strings may be necessary (ensure the inputs are controlled to avoid security issues):

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Sorting a list of entities based on varying criteria is challenging, but with a well-structured approach involving custom comparators, it can be accomplished with elegance. By employing a mapping strategy and clear logic, you can enhance performance and maintainability in your code.

If you have any questions or need further clarification on specific sections, feel free to reach out!