How to Sort Multi-dimensional Array by Key Value in PHP

The order of an array elements can sort by key using foreach() loop, but it will be a complicated process, and execution time is high. PHP array_multisort() function provides an easy way to sort a multidimensional array by key value. In this example code snippet, we will show you how to sort the order of multi-dimensional array elements by key in PHP.

The following code helps to sort multi-dimensional arrays by key in PHP.

• Use PHP array_column() function to get values from a specifc key column in array.
• Use PHP array_multisort() function to sort an array by key value.

In this example code snippet, the first_name key is specified to sort the $records array in ascending order.

$records = array( 
  array( 
    'first_name' => 'John', 
    'last_name' => 'Doe', 
    'email' => 'john.doe@gmail.com' 
  ), 
  array( 
    'first_name' => 'Gary', 
    'last_name' => 'Riley', 
    'email' => 'gary@hotmail.com' 
  ), 
  array( 
    'first_name' => 'Edward', 
    'last_name' => 'Siu', 
    'email' => 'siu.edward@gmail.com' 
  ), 
  array( 
    'first_name' => 'Betty', 
    'last_name' => 'Simons', 
    'email' => 'simons@example.com' 
  ) 
); 
 
$key_values = array_column($records, 'first_name'); 
array_multisort($key_values, SORT_ASC, $records);

After sorting, the $records array is returned in the following order.

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [first_name] => Betty
            [last_name] => Simons
            [email] => simons@example.com
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [first_name] => Edward
            [last_name] => Siu
            [email] => siu.edward@gmail.com
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [first_name] => Gary
            [last_name] => Riley
            [email] => gary@hotmail.com
        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [first_name] => John
            [last_name] => Doe
            [email] => john.doe@gmail.com
        )

)