PHP Sort Array By SubArray Value

Question

I have the following array structure:

Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [configuration_id] => 10
                    [id] => 1
                    [optionNumber] => 3
                    [optionActive] => 1
                    [lastUpdated] => 2010-03-17 15:44:12
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [configuration_id] => 9
                    [id] => 1
                    [optionNumber] => 2
                    [optionActive] => 1
                    [lastUpdated] => 2010-03-17 15:44:12
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [configuration_id] => 8
                    [id] => 1
                    [optionNumber] => 1
                    [optionActive] => 1
                    [lastUpdated] => 2010-03-17 15:44:12
                )
    )

What is the best way to order the array in an incremental way, based on the optionNumber?

So the results look like:

Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [configuration_id] => 8
                    [id] => 1
                    [optionNumber] => 1
                    [optionActive] => 1
                    [lastUpdated] => 2010-03-17 15:44:12
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [configuration_id] => 9
                    [id] => 1
                    [optionNumber] => 2
                    [optionActive] => 1
                    [lastUpdated] => 2010-03-17 15:44:12
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [configuration_id] => 10
                    [id] => 1
                    [optionNumber] => 3
                    [optionActive] => 1
                    [lastUpdated] => 2010-03-17 15:44:12
                )
    )

Answer 1

Use usort.

function cmp_by_optionNumber($a, $b) {
  return $a["optionNumber"] - $b["optionNumber"];
}

...

usort($array, "cmp_by_optionNumber");

---

In PHP ≥5.3, you should use an anonymous function instead:

usort($array, function ($a, $b) {
    return $a['optionNumber'] - $b['optionNumber'];
});

Note that both code above assume $a['optionNumber'] is an integer. Use @St. John Johnson's solution if they are strings.

---

In PHP ≥7.0, use the spaceship operator <=> instead of subtraction to prevent overflow/truncation problems.

usort($array, function ($a, $b) {
    return $a['optionNumber'] <=> $b['optionNumber'];
});