Best way to sort an NSArray of NSDictionary objects?

Question

I'm struggling with trying to sort an array of dictionaries.

My dictionaries have a couple of values of interest, price, popularity etc.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Use NSSortDescriptor like this..

NSSortDescriptor * descriptor = [[NSSortDescriptor alloc] initWithKey:@"interest" ascending:YES];
stories = [stories sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:@[descriptor]];
recent = [stories copy];

stories is the array you want to sort. recent is another mutable array which has sorted dictionary values. Change the @"interest" with the key value on which you have to sort.

All the best

Answer 2

[array sortUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:[NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"YOUR-KEY" ascending:YES], nil]];

I don't really want to break it into multiple lines. It's already simple enough for me.

Answer 3

You can just traverse from the parent to the required child property. For e.g.

NSSortDescriptor *descriptor = [[NSSortDescriptor alloc] initWithKey:@"parent.child.child"  ascending:YES];

Answer 4

Update , sortUsingDescriptors is now sortedArrayUsingDescriptors

So, its like:

items  = [items sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:descriptor,nil]];

Answer 5

Write a sort function that compares the relevant fields in two dictionaries. When you have this version you can for example use NSArray#sortedArrayUsingFunction:context: to sort your array.

See NSArray Class Reference

Answer 6

array = [array sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:[NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"YOUR-KEY" ascending:YES], nil]];

Remember assign to array