How to Sort a Table by Column in Descending Order with JavaScript

Learn how to easily sort a table's rows in descending order by a specified column using plain JavaScript or jQuery, without relying on any plugins.
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Mastering Table Sorting with JavaScript

In the world of web development, displaying data in a structured and understandable way is vital. One common requirement is to sort a table based on a specific column's values. In this guide, we will particularly focus on how to sort a table once by a single column in descending order using JavaScript, without the need for any plugins. This is perfect for those who want to keep their project lightweight and clean.

Understanding the Problem

Imagine you have a table containing a list of events and their associated positions, as illustrated below:

PositionEvent3Investigation5Triage4Clinic1MDT2OtherThe task is to sort this table in descending order based on the "Position" column values. For instance, after sorting, the table should look like this:

PositionEvent5Triage4Clinic3Investigation2Other1MDTStep-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Setting Up the HTML

Begin by creating a simple table in your HTML. Ensure you have proper header and body tags for the table. Here’s how you can set it up:

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

Step 2: Writing the JavaScript

Next, you will need to write JavaScript to perform the sorting. This script should only run once the page has loaded to ensure all elements are ready.

Here’s a concise script to achieve this:

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

Explanation of the Sorting Logic

Event Listener: We set up an event listener for when the window loads, ensuring that all the DOM elements are available to manipulate.

Selecting Rows: We retrieve all the rows within the table body using querySelectorAll.

Sorting: The main logic for sorting is done using JavaScript’s sort() function. The comparator function compares the numerical values of the first td elements in each row (the Position column).

Appending Rows: Finally, we use the spread operator to append the sorted rows back to the table body in their new order.

Conclusion

Sorting a table by a specific column using pure JavaScript is not just achievable but also quite straightforward. The method involves a concise HTML structure and a simple sorting logic encapsulated in JavaScript. This approach not only enhances the performance of your web application by avoiding external libraries but also gives you complete control over how the data is displayed.

By following the steps outlined above, you can implement a sortable table in your project quickly and effectively. Happy coding!