An overload to the Base R sort function for
data frames. Allows multiple columns to be sorted easily. Also
allows you to control the sort direction for each column independently.
# S3 method for data.frame
sort(
x,
decreasing = FALSE,
...,
by = NULL,
ascending = TRUE,
na.last = TRUE,
index.return = FALSE
)The input data frame to sort.
This parameter was added to conform to the S3 generic
method signature of the sort function, and will be
ignored here. Please use the ascending parameter.
This parameter is required for the generic method signature. Anything passed on it will be ignored.
A vector of column names to sort by. If this parameter is not supplied, the function will sort by all columns in order from left to right.
A vector of TRUE or FALSE values corresponding
to the variables on the by parameter. These values will determine
the direction to sort each column. Ascending is TRUE, and descending is FALSE.
The vector will be recycled if it is short, and truncated if it is long.
By default, all variables will be sorted ascending.
Whether to put NA values first or last in the sort. If TRUE, NA values will sort to the bottom. If FALSE, NA values will sort to the top. The default is TRUE.
Whether to return the sorted data frame or a vector of sorted index values. If this parameter is TRUE, the function will return sorted index values. By default, the parameter is FALSE, and will return the sorted data frame.
The function returns either a sorted data frame or a
sorted vector of row index values, depending on the value of the
index.return parameter. If index.return is FALSE,
the function will return the sorted data frame.
If the index.return parameter is TRUE, it will return a vector
of row indices.
Other overrides:
copy.attributes(),
labels.data.frame()
# Prepare unsorted sample data
dt <- mtcars[1:10, 1:3]
dt
# mpg cyl disp
# Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0
# Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0
# Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0
# Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0
# Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0
# Valiant 18.1 6 225.0
# Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0
# Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7
# Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8
# Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6
# Sort by mpg ascending
dt1 <- sort(dt, by = "mpg")
dt1
# mpg cyl disp
# Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0
# Valiant 18.1 6 225.0
# Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0
# Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6
# Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0
# Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0
# Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0
# Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0
# Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8
# Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7
# Sort by mpg descending
dt1 <- sort(dt, by = "mpg", ascending = FALSE)
dt1
# mpg cyl disp
# Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7
# Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0
# Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8
# Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0
# Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0
# Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0
# Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6
# Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0
# Valiant 18.1 6 225.0
# Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0
# Sort by cyl then mpg
dt1 <- sort(dt, by = c("cyl", "mpg"))
dt1
# mpg cyl disp
# Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0
# Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8
# Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7
# Valiant 18.1 6 225.0
# Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6
# Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0
# Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0
# Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0
# Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0
# Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0
# Sort by cyl descending then mpg ascending
dt1 <- sort(dt, by = c("cyl", "mpg"),
ascending = c(FALSE, TRUE))
dt1
# mpg cyl disp
# Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0
# Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0
# Valiant 18.1 6 225.0
# Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6
# Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0
# Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0
# Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0
# Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0
# Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8
# Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7