Sorting custom strings in Javascript with special characters like dash (-) and underscore (_)

Question

Sorting custom strings in Javascript with special characters like dash (-) and underscore (_)

I am attempting to create a custom sorting method with the following order:

special character ( - first, _ last)
digit
alphabets

For instance, when sorting the array below

var words = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'];

the desired result should be

MBC-PEP-1,MBC-PEP_1,MBC-PEP01,MBC-PEP91,MBC-PEPA1,MBC-PEPZ1

However, with my current code, the result is

"MBC-PEP-1", "MBC-PEP01", "MBC-PEP91", "MBC-PEP_1", "MBC-PEPA1", "MBC-PEPZ1"

I am unsure of how to achieve the desired sorting order.

function MySort(alphabet)
{
    return function(a, b) {
        var lowerA = a.toLowerCase()
        var lowerB = b.toLowerCase()
        var index_a = alphabet.indexOf(lowerA[0]),
        index_b = alphabet.indexOf(lowerB[0]);

        if (index_a === index_b) {
            // same first character, sort regularly
            if (a < b) {
                return -1;
            } else if (a > b) {
                return 1;
            }
            return 0;
        } else {
            return index_a - index_b;
        }
    }
}

var items = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'],
sorter = MySort('-_0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz');

console.log(items.sort(sorter));

javascript arrays sorting vue.js lodash

Answer 1

Answer №1

I adapted a solution found here into JavaScript code that achieves the desired outcome without relying on recursion or complex logic:

function CustomSort(alphabet) {
    return function (a, b) {
       a = a.toLowerCase();
       b = b.toLowerCase();
       var pos1 = 0;
       var pos2 = 0;
       for (var i = 0; i < Math.min(a.length, b.length) && pos1 == pos2; i++) {
          pos1 = alphabet.indexOf(a[i]);
          pos2 = alphabet.indexOf(b[i]);
       }

       if (pos1 == pos2 && a.length != b.length) {
           return o1.length - o2.length;
       }

       return pos1 - pos2;
    };
}
    
var items = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'],
sorter = CustomSort('-_0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz');

console.log(items.sort(sorter));

Answer 2

I adapted a solution found here into JavaScript code that achieves the desired outcome without relying on recursion or complex logic:

function CustomSort(alphabet) {
    return function (a, b) {
       a = a.toLowerCase();
       b = b.toLowerCase();
       var pos1 = 0;
       var pos2 = 0;
       for (var i = 0; i < Math.min(a.length, b.length) && pos1 == pos2; i++) {
          pos1 = alphabet.indexOf(a[i]);
          pos2 = alphabet.indexOf(b[i]);
       }

       if (pos1 == pos2 && a.length != b.length) {
           return o1.length - o2.length;
       }

       return pos1 - pos2;
    };
}
    
var items = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'],
sorter = CustomSort('-_0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz');

console.log(items.sort(sorter));

Answer 3

Answer №2

In response to Narigo's comment, the current comparison is only looking at the first character. Consider this alternative approach that may be more straightforward:

function SortItems(x, y) {
  x = x.replace("_", ".");
  y = y.replace("_", ".");
  return x.localeCompare(y);
}

var itemsToSort = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'];

console.log(itemsToSort.sort(SortItems));

This method uses a regular string comparison but replaces underscores with dots to determine the order, aligning with your intended outcome.

Answer 4

In response to Narigo's comment, the current comparison is only looking at the first character. Consider this alternative approach that may be more straightforward:

function SortItems(x, y) {
  x = x.replace("_", ".");
  y = y.replace("_", ".");
  return x.localeCompare(y);
}

var itemsToSort = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'];

console.log(itemsToSort.sort(SortItems));

This method uses a regular string comparison but replaces underscores with dots to determine the order, aligning with your intended outcome.

Answer 5

Answer №3

It seems like your current algorithm is only comparing the first character of each string. To achieve a more accurate sorting, you should consider analyzing more characters in the strings. Below is a recursive solution that takes this approach:

function MySort(alphabet)
{
    return function recSorter(a, b) {
        var lowerA = a.toLowerCase()
        var lowerB = b.toLowerCase()
        var index_a = alphabet.indexOf(lowerA[0]),
        index_b = alphabet.indexOf(lowerB[0]);

        if (index_a === index_b && index_a >= 0) {
            return recSorter(a.slice(1), b.slice(1));
        } else {
            return index_a - index_b;
        }
    }
}

var items = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'],
sorter = MySort('-_0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz');

console.log(items.sort(sorter));

In cases where the strings have varying lengths, contain characters outside the defined alphabet, or other edge scenarios, the behavior of this algorithm may need further refinement. However, for the provided example, it successfully produces the expected sorting order.

Answer 6

It seems like your current algorithm is only comparing the first character of each string. To achieve a more accurate sorting, you should consider analyzing more characters in the strings. Below is a recursive solution that takes this approach:

function MySort(alphabet)
{
    return function recSorter(a, b) {
        var lowerA = a.toLowerCase()
        var lowerB = b.toLowerCase()
        var index_a = alphabet.indexOf(lowerA[0]),
        index_b = alphabet.indexOf(lowerB[0]);

        if (index_a === index_b && index_a >= 0) {
            return recSorter(a.slice(1), b.slice(1));
        } else {
            return index_a - index_b;
        }
    }
}

var items = ['MBC-PEP-1', 'MBC-PEP01', 'MBC-PEP91', 'MBC-PEPA1', 'MBC-PEPZ1', 'MBC-PEP_1'],
sorter = MySort('-_0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz');

console.log(items.sort(sorter));

In cases where the strings have varying lengths, contain characters outside the defined alphabet, or other edge scenarios, the behavior of this algorithm may need further refinement. However, for the provided example, it successfully produces the expected sorting order.

Sorting custom strings in Javascript with special characters like dash (-) and underscore (_)

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

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