How to sort an array of integers correctly

Question

Trying to get the highest and lowest value from an array that I know will contain only integers seems to be harder than I thought   x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   numArray   numArray sort    console log numArray  x000D   x000D   x000D   I d expect this to show 99  104  140000  Instead it shows 104  140000  99  So it seems the sort is handling the values as strings  Is there a way to get the sort function to actually sort on integer value

User · Accepted Answer

By default  the sort method sorts elements alphabetically  To sort numerically just add a new method which handles numeric sorts  sortNumber  shown below  -    x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   x000D  numArray sort function a  b    x000D    return a - b  x000D      x000D   x000D  console log numArray   x000D   x000D   x000D    In ES6  you can simplify this with arrow functions   numArray sort  a  b    gt  a - b      For ascending sort numArray sort  a  b    gt  b - a      For descending sort     Documentation   Mozilla Array prototype sort   recommends this compare function for arrays that don t contain Infinity or NaN    Because Inf - Inf is NaN  not 0    Also examples of sorting objects by key

User · Answer

sort mixed Object defineProperty Array prototype  quot sort mixed quot        value  function         do not use arrow function         var N       L               this forEach e   gt                Number isFinite e    N push e    L push e                       N sort  a  b    gt  a - b           L sort                N     L  forEach  v  i    gt  this i    v           return this          try a   1  u   quot V quot  10 4  quot c quot   quot A quot   sort mixed    console log a

User · Answer

This is the already proposed and accepted solution as a method on the Array prototype   Array prototype sortNumeric   function          return this sort  a  b    gt  a - b      Array prototype sortNumericDesc   function          return this sort  a  b    gt  b - a

User · Answer

For a normal array of elements values only   function sortArrayOfElements arrayToSort        function compareElements a  b            if  a  lt  b              return -1          if  a  gt  b              return 1          return 0             return arrayToSort sort compareElements      e g  1  var array1    1 2 545 676 64 2 24    output    1  2  2  24  64  545  676     var array2     v   a  545 676 64 2  24     output    a    v   2   24   64  545  676      For an array of objects   function sortArrayOfObjects arrayToSort  key        function compareObjects a  b            if  a key   lt  b key               return -1          if  a key   gt  b key               return 1          return 0             return arrayToSort sort compareObjects      e g  1  var array1     name    User4    value   4    name    User3    value   3    name    User2    value   2      output      name    User2    value   2    name    User3    value   3    name    User4    value   4

User · Answer

Sort integers  gt  0  think outside the box   x000D   x000D  function sortArray arr      return new Promise  resolve    gt        const result          arr forEach  item    gt          setTimeout      gt            result push item          if  result length     arr length  resolve result           item                 sortArray  4  2  42  128  56  2   then  result    gt      document write JSON stringify result      x000D   x000D   x000D    Note that this should not be used productively   sort   is better suited for this  check the other answers

User · Answer

In JavaScript the sort   method s default behaviour is to sort values in an array alphabetically   To sort by number you have to define a numeric sort function  which is very easy        function sortNumber a  b      return a - b     numArray   numArray sort sortNumber

User · Answer

While not required in JavaScript  if you would like the sort   compareFunction to strictly return -1  0  or 1  similar to how the spaceship operator works in PHP   then you can use Math sign     The compareFunction below strictly returns -1  0  or 1   numArray sort  a  b    gt  Math sign a - b         Note  Math sign   is not supported in Internet Explorer

User · Answer

The function  numerically  below serves the purpose of sorting array of numbers numerically in many cases when provided as a callback function   function numerically a  b       return a-b     array sort numerically      But in some rare instances  where array contains very large and negative numbers  an overflow error can occur as the result of a-b gets smaller than the smallest number that JavaScript can cope with   So a better way of writing numerically function is as follows   function numerically a  b      if a  lt  b         return -1       else if a  gt  b         return 1       else         return 0

User · Answer

Just building on all of the above answers  they can also be done in one line like this   var numArray    140000  104  99       ES5 numArray   numArray sort function  a  b     return a - b           ES2015 numArray   numArray sort  a  b    gt  a - b      outputs  99  104  140000

User · Answer

As sort method converts Array elements into string  So  below way also works fine with decimal numbers with array elements   let productPrices    10 33  2 55  1 06  5 77   console log productPrices sort  a b   gt a-b      And gives you the expected result

User · Answer

The question has already been answered  the shortest way is to use sort   method  But if you re searching for more ways to sort your array of numbers  and you also love cycles  check the following  Insertion sort  Ascending   x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   x000D  for  var i   0  i  lt  numArray length  i      x000D      var target   numArray i   x000D      for  var j   i - 1  j  gt   0  amp  amp   numArray j   gt  target   j--    x000D          numArray j 1    numArray j   x000D        x000D      numArray j 1    target x000D    x000D  console log numArray   x000D   x000D   x000D    Descending    x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   x000D  for  var i   0  i  lt  numArray length  i      x000D      var target   numArray i   x000D      for  var j   i - 1  j  gt   0  amp  amp   numArray j   lt  target   j--    x000D          numArray j 1    numArray j   x000D        x000D      numArray j 1    target x000D    x000D  console log numArray   x000D   x000D   x000D    Selection sort   Ascending    x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   x000D  for  var i   0  i  lt  numArray length - 1  i      x000D      var min   i  x000D      for  var j   i   1  j  lt  numArray length  j      x000D          if  numArray j   lt  numArray min     x000D              min   j  x000D            x000D        x000D      if  min    i    x000D          var target   numArray i   x000D          numArray i    numArray min   x000D          numArray min    target  x000D        x000D    x000D  console log numArray   x000D   x000D   x000D    Descending    x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   x000D  for  var i   0  i  lt  numArray length - 1  i      x000D      var min   i  x000D      for  var j   i   1  j  lt  numArray length  j      x000D          if  numArray j   gt  numArray min     x000D              min   j  x000D            x000D        x000D      if  min    i    x000D          var target   numArray i   x000D          numArray i    numArray min   x000D          numArray min    target  x000D        x000D    x000D  console log numArray   x000D   x000D   x000D    Have fun

User · Answer

You can sort number array simply by  x000D   x000D  const num  13 17 14 19 16   let temp  for let i 0 i lt num length i         for let j i 1 j lt num length j             if num i  gt num j                temp num i              num i  num j              num j  temp                    console log num   x000D   x000D   x000D

User · Answer

I am surprised why everyone recommends to pass a comparator function to sort    that makes sorting really slow  To sort numbers  just create any TypedArray   x000D   x000D  var numArray   new Float64Array  140000  104  99    numArray   numArray sort    console log numArray  x000D   x000D   x000D

User · Answer

In the new ES6 world its much easier to do a sort   numArray sort  a b    gt  a-b     Thats all you need

User · Answer

I agree with aks  however instead of using      return a - b    You should use  return a  gt  b   1   a  lt  b   -1   0

User · Answer

Try this code   HTML    lt div id  demo  gt  lt  div gt    JavaScript code    lt script gt       function            var points    40  100  1  5  25  10           document getElementById  demo   innerHTML   points          points sort function a  b  return a-b            document getElementById  demo   innerHTML   points             lt  script gt

User · Answer

Update  Scroll to bottom of answer for smartSort prop additive that gives even more fun Sorts arrays of anything    My personal favorite form of this function allows for a param for Ascending  or Descending   function intArraySort c  a        function d a  b    return b - a         string     typeof a  amp  amp  a toLowerCase        switch  a            default  return c sort function a  b    return a - b              case 1                  case  d                   case  dc                   case  desc                   return c sort d             Usage as simple as   var ara   function getArray             var a   Math floor Math random   50  1  b               for  i 0 i lt  a i    b push Math floor Math random   50  1           return b                  Ascending intArraySort ara   console log ara          Descending intArraySort ara  1   console log ara          Ascending intArraySort ara   a    console log ara          Descending intArraySort ara   dc    console log ara          Ascending intArraySort ara   asc    console log ara     jsFiddle    Or Code Snippet Example Here    x000D   x000D  function intArraySort c  a    x000D   function d a  b    return b - a   x000D    string     typeof a  amp  amp  a toLowerCase    x000D   switch  a    x000D    default  return c sort function a  b    return a - b     x000D    case 1  x000D    case  d   x000D    case  dc   x000D    case  desc   x000D    return c sort d  x000D     x000D     x000D   x000D  function tableExample     x000D   var d   function     x000D     var a   Math floor 50   Math random      1  x000D      b       x000D     for  i   0  i  lt   a  i    b push Math floor 50   Math random      1   x000D     return b x000D       x000D    a   function a    x000D     var b       lt tr  gt     x000D      c       lt th  gt    prependTo b   x000D         lt td  gt      x000D      text  intArraySort d    a  join       x000D        appendTo b   x000D     switch  a    x000D      case 1  x000D      case  d   x000D      case  dc   x000D      case  desc   x000D       c addClass  desc   text  Descending    x000D       break  x000D      default  x000D       c addClass  asc   text  Ascending   x000D       x000D     return b x000D       x000D   return    tbody   empty   append a    a 1   a    a 1   a    a 1   a    a 1   a    a 1   a    a 1   x000D     x000D   x000D  tableExample    x000D  table   border-collapse  collapse    x000D  th  td   border  1px solid  padding   25em  5em  vertical-align  top    x000D   asc   color  red    x000D   desc   color  blue   x000D   lt script src  https   ajax googleapis com ajax libs jquery 1 9 1 jquery min js  gt  lt  script gt  x000D   lt table gt  lt tbody gt  lt  tbody gt  lt  table gt  x000D   x000D   x000D       smartSort  asc     desc    Now have even more fun with a sorting method that sorts an array full of multiple items  Doesn t currently cover  associative   aka  string keys   but it does cover about every type of value  Not only will it sort the multiple values asc or desc accordingly  but it will also maintain constant  position  of  groups  of values  In other words  ints are always first  then come strings  then arrays  yes  i m making this multidimensional    then Objects  unfiltered  element  date    amp  finally undefineds and nulls     Why   you ask  Why not   Now comes in 2 flavors  The first of which requires newer browsers as it uses Object defineProperty to add the method to the Array protoype Object  This allows for ease of natural use  such as  myArray smartSort  a    If you need to implement for older browsers  or you simply don t like modifying native Objects  scroll down to Method Only version      begin       KEY NOTE  Requires EcmaScript 5 1  not compatible with older browsers        function   if Object defineProperty amp  amp  Array prototype smartSort  var h function a b  if null  a  void 0  a return 1 if null  b  void 0  b return-1 var c typeof a e c typeof b if   numbernumber  ig test e  return a-b if   stringstring  ig test e  return a gt b if   string number  2  ig test e  return string i test c  1 -1 if  number ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e    string ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e  return object i test c  1 -1 if   objectobject  ig test e   a instanceof Array amp  amp a smartSort  a   b instanceof Array amp  amp b smartSort  a   if a instanceof Date amp  amp b instanceof Date return a-b if a instanceof Array amp  amp b instanceof Array  var e Object keys a  g Object keys b  e e concat g  smartSort  a   d for d in e if c e d  a c   b c  return d  a c  b c   smartSort  a   a c   d 0  -1 1 var f  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0    smartSort  a   return a Object keys a  0    f 0  -1 1 if a instanceof Element amp  amp b instanceof Element  if a tagName  b tagName return e  a id b id  smartSort  a   a id  e 0  1 -1 e  a tagName  b tagName  smartSort  a   return a tagName  e 0  1 -1 if a instanceof Date  b instanceof Date return a instanceof Date 1 -1 if a instanceof Array  b instanceof Array return a instanceof Array -1 1 e Object keys a  g Object keys b  e concat g  smartSort  a   for c 0 20 gt c c    d e c  f g c  if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp b hasOwnProperty f   if a d instanceof Element amp  amp b f instanceof Element  if a d  tagName  b f  tagName return c  a d  id b f  id  smartSort  a   a d  id  c 0  -1 1 c  a d  tagName b f  tagName  smartSort  d    return a d  tagName  c 0  1 -1 if a d instanceof Element  b f instanceof Element return a d instanceof Element 1 -1 if a d   b f  return c  a d  b f   smartSort  a   a d   c 0  -1 1 if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp a d instanceof Element return 1 if b hasOwnProperty f  amp  amp b f instanceof Element   a hasOwnProperty d  return-1 if  b hasOwnProperty d  return 1 c  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0    smartSort  d   return a Object keys a  0    c 0  -1 1 g  a b  sort   return g 0  gt g 1   k function a b  if null   a  void 0  a return 1 if null  b  void 0  b return-1 var c typeof a e c typeof b if   numbernumber  ig test e  return b-a if   stringstring  ig test e  return b gt a if   string number  2  ig test e  return string i test c  1 -1 if  number ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e    string ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e  return object i test c  1 -1 if   objectobject  ig test e   a instanceof Array amp  amp a smartSort  d   b instanceof Array amp  amp b smartSort  d   if a instanceof Date amp  amp b instanceof Date return b-a if a instanceof Array amp  amp b instanceof Array  var e Object keys a  g Object keys b  e e concat g  smartSort  a   d for d in e if c e d  a c   b c  return d  a c  b c   smartSort  d   a c   d 0  -1 1 var f  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0    smartSort  d   return a Object keys a  0    f 0  -1 1 if a instanceof Element amp  amp b instanceof Element  if a tagName  b tagName return e  a id b id  smartSort  d   a id  e 0  -1 1 e  a tagName b tagName  smartSort  d   return a tagName  e 0  -1 1 if a instanceof Date  b instanceof Date return a instanceof Date 1 -1 if a instanceof Array  b instanceof Array return a instanceof Array -1 1 e Object keys a  g Object keys b  e concat g  smartSort  a   for c 0 20 gt c c    d e c  f g c  if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp b hasOwnProperty f   if a d instanceof Element amp  amp b f instanceof Element  if a d  tagName  b f  tagName return c  a d  id b f  id  smartSort  d   a d  id  c 0  -1 1 c  a d  tagName b f  tagName  smartSort  d   return a d  tagName  c 0  -1 1 if a d instanceof Element  b f instanceof Element return a d instanceof Element 1 -1 if a d   b f  return c  a d  b f   smartSort  d   a d   c 0  -1 1 if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp a d instanceof Element return 1 if b hasOwnProperty f  amp  amp b f instanceof Element return-1 if  a hasOwnProperty d  return 1 if  b hasOwnProperty d  return-1 c  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0    smartSort  d   return a Object keys a  0    c 0  -1 1 g  a b  sort   return g 0  lt g 1   Object defineProperty Array prototype  smartSort   value function   return arguments amp  amp    arguments length  1  arguments length amp  amp   a  sc  2      d  esc  3     i test arguments 0    this sort  arguments length    a  sc  2     i test arguments 0   h k  this sort               end      jsFiddle Array prototype smartSort  asc desc      Use is simple  First make some crazy array like   window z      one   undefined      lt span   gt      two   null  2      lt div   gt      id   Thing          lt div   gt     4      lt header   gt       z push new Date  1 01 2011     z push  three    z push undefined   z push    one    three    four      z push    one    three    five      z push   a   a   b   b      z push   name   bob   value   bill      z push new Date     z push   john   jill   jack   june      z push    abc    def      abc    def    cba        cba    def    bca      cba      z push    cba    def    bca      z push   a   a   b   b   c   c      z push   a   a   b   b   c   d        Then simply sort it   z smartSort  asc       Ascending z smartSort  desc       Descending     Method Only  Same as the preceding  except as just a simple method      begin       KEY NOTE  Method  smartSort  is appended to native  window  for global use  If you d prefer a more local scope  simple change  window smartSort  to  var smartSort  and place inside your class method    window smartSort function   if arguments  var a b c for c in arguments arguments c instanceof Array amp  amp  a arguments c  void 0  b amp  amp  b  a     string   typeof arguments c  amp  amp  b   a  sc  2     i test arguments c    a   d   if a instanceof Array return a sort  a   b smartSort asc smartSort desc  return this sort    smartSort asc function a b  if null  a  void 0  a return 1 if null  b  void 0  b return-1 var c typeof a e c typeof b if   numbernumber  ig test e  return a-b if   stringstring  ig test e  return a gt  b if   string number  2  ig test e  return string i test c  1 -1 if  number ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e    string ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e  return object i test c  1 -1 if   objectobject  ig test e   a instanceof Array amp  amp a sort smartSort asc  b instanceof Array amp  amp b sort smartSort asc  if a instanceof Date amp  amp b instanceof Date return a-b if a instanceof Array amp  amp b instanceof Array  var e Object keys a  g Object keys b  e smartSort e concat g   a   d for d in e if c e d  a c   b c  return d smartSort  a c   b c    a   a c   d 0  -1 1 var f smartSort  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0     a   return a Object keys a  0    f 0  -1 1 if a instanceof Element amp  amp b instanceof Element  if a tagName  b tagName return e smartSort  a id b id   a   a id  e 0  1 -1 e smartSort  a tagName b tagName   a   return a tagName  e 0  1 -1 if a instanceof Date  b instanceof Date return a instanceof Date 1 -1 if a instanceof Array  b instanceof Array return a instanceof Array -1 1 e Object keys a  g Object keys b  smartSort e concat g    a   for c 0 20 gt c c    d e c  f g c  if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp b hasOwnProperty f   if a d instanceof Element amp  amp b f instanceof Element  if a d  tagName  b f  tagName return c smartSort  a d  id b f  id   a   a d  id  c 0  -1 1 c smartSort  a d  tagName b f  tagName   a   return a d  tagName  c 0  -1 1 if a d instanceof Element  b f instanceof Element return a d instanceof Element 1 -1 if a d   b f  return c smartSort  a d  b f    a   a d   c 0  -1 1 if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp a d instanceof Element return 1  if b hasOwnProperty f  amp  amp b f instanceof Element   a hasOwnProperty d  return-1 if  b hasOwnProperty d  return 1 c smartSort  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0     a   return a Object keys a  0    c 0  1 -1 g  a b  sort   return g 0  gt g 1   smartSort desc function a b  if null  a  void 0  a return 1 if null  b  void 0  b return-1 var c typeof a e c typeof b if   numbernumber  ig test e  return b-a if   stringstring  ig test e  return b gt a if   string number  2  ig test e  return string i test c   1 -1 if  number ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e    string ig test e  amp  amp  object ig test e  return object i test c  1 -1 if   objectobject  ig test e   a instanceof Array amp  amp a sort smartSort desc  b instanceof Array amp  amp b sort smartSort desc  if a instanceof Date amp  amp b instanceof Date return b-a if a instanceof Array amp  amp b instanceof Array  var e Object keys a  g Object keys b  e smartSort e concat g   a   d for d in e if c e d  a c   b c  return d smartSort  a c  b c    d   a c   d 0  -1 1 var f smartSort  a Object keys a  0    b Object keys b  0     d   return a Object keys a  0    f 0  -1 1 if a instanceof Element amp  amp b instanceof Element  if a tagName  b tagName return e smartSort  a id b id   d   a id  e 0  -1 1 e smartSort  a tagName b tagName   d   return a tagName  e 0  -1 1 if a instanceof Date  b instanceof Date return a instanceof Date 1 -1 if a instanceof Array  b instanceof Array return a instanceof Array -1 1 e Object keys a  g Object keys b  smartSort e concat g   a   for c 0 20 gt c c    d e c  f g c  if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp  b hasOwnProperty f   if a d instanceof Element amp  amp b f instanceof Element  if a d  tagName  b f  tagName return c smartSort  a d  id b f  id   d   a d  id  c 0  -1 1 c smartSort  a d  tagName b f  tagName   d   return a d  tagName  c 0  -1 1 if a d instanceof Element  b f instanceof Element return a d instanceof Element 1 -1 if a d   b f  return c smartSort  a d  b f    d   a d   c 0  -1 1 if a hasOwnProperty d  amp  amp a d instanceof Element return 1 if b hasOwnProperty f  amp  amp b f instanceof Element return-1  if  a hasOwnProperty d  return 1 if  b hasOwnProperty d  return-1 c smartSort  a Object keys a  0   b Object keys b  0     d   return a Object keys a  0    c 0  -1 1 g  a b  sort   return g 0  lt g 1      end      Use   z   smartSort z   asc       Ascending z   smartSort z   desc       Descending   jsFiddle Method smartSort Array   asc desc

User · Answer

var numArray    140000  104  99   numArray   numArray sort  a b    gt  a-b   alert numArray

User · Answer

Try this code as below  var a    5  17  29  48  64  21   function sortA arr    return arr sort function a  b    return a - b         alert sortA a

User · Answer

If anyone doesn t understand how Array sort   works with integers  read this answer  Alphabetical order  By default  the sort   method sorts the values as strings in alphabetical and ascending order  const myArray    104  140000  99   myArray sort    console log myArray      output is  104  140000  99   Ascending order with array sort compareFunction   const myArray    104  140000  99   myArray sort function a  b     return a - b      console log myArray      output is  99  104  140000   Explanation from w3schools   compareFunction defines an alternative sort order  The function should return a negative  zero  or positive value  depending on the arguments  like  function a  b  return a-b  When the sort   method compares two values  it sends the values to the compare function  and sorts the values according to the returned  negative  zero  positive  value  Example  When comparing 40 and 100  the sort   method calls the compare function 40 100   The function calculates 40-100  and returns -60  a negative value   The sort function will sort 40 as a value lower than 100   Descending order with array sort compareFunction   const myArray    104  140000  99   myArray sort function a  b     return b - a      console log myArray      output is  140000  104  99   This time we calculated with b - a i e   100-40  which returns a positive value

User · Answer

Here is my sort array function in the utils library   sortArray  function array        array sort function a  b            return a  gt  b                Let s test a string array var arr     bbc    chrome    aux    ext    dog    utils sortArray arr   console log arr    gt  gt  gt    aux    bbc    chrome    dog    ext   remove  function     Let s test a number array var arr    55  22  1425  12  78   utils sortArray arr   console log arr    gt  gt  gt   12  22  55  78  1425  remove  function

User · Answer

Array prototype sort   is the go to method for sorting arrays  but there are a couple of issues we need to be aware of   The sorting order is by default lexicographic and not numeric regardless of the types of values in the array  Even if the array is all numbers  all values will be converted to string and sorted lexicographically   So should we need to customize the sort   and reverse   method like below   Referred URL  For sorting numbers inside the array  numArray sort function a  b        return a - b        For reversing numbers inside the array  numArray sort function a  b        return b - a        Referred URL

User · Answer

TypeScript variant const compareNumbers    a  number  b  number   number   gt  a - b  myArray sort compareNumbers

User · Answer

array sort does a lexicographic sort by default  for a numeric sort  provide your own function  Here s a simple example   function compareNumbers a  b        return a - b     numArray sort compareNumbers     Also note that sort works  in place   there s no need for the assignment

User · Answer

to handle undefined  null  and NaN  Null behaves like 0  NaN and undefined goes to end   array    3  5  -1  1  NaN  6  undefined  2  null  array sort  a b    gt  isNaN a     a-b      -1  null  1  2  3  5  6  NaN  undefined

User · Answer

This answer is equivalent to some of the existing answers  but ECMAScript 6 arrow functions provide a much more compact syntax that allows us to define an inline sort function without sacrificing readability   numArray   numArray sort  a  b    gt  a - b     It is supported in most browsers today

User · Answer

The reason why the sort function behaves so weird  From the documentation            the array is sorted according to each character s Unicode code point   value  according to the string conversion of each element    If you print the unicode point values of the array then it will get clear    x000D   x000D  console log  140000  charCodeAt 0    x000D  console log  104  charCodeAt 0    x000D  console log  99  charCodeAt 0    x000D   x000D    Note that we only look at the first index of the number  charCodeAt   0     x000D   x000D   x000D    This returns   49  49  57    49  unicode value of first number at 140000  49  unicode value of first number at 104  57  unicode value of first number at 99    Now  because 140000 and 104 returned the same values  49  it cuts the first index and checks again    x000D   x000D  console log  40000  charCodeAt 0    x000D  console log  04  charCodeAt 0    x000D   x000D    Note that we only look at the first index of the number  charCodeAt   0     x000D   x000D   x000D    52  unicode value of first number at 40000  40  unicode value of first number at 04    If we sort this  then we will get   40  unicode value of first number at 04  52  unicode value of first number at 40000    so 104 comes before 140000   So the final result will be    x000D   x000D  var numArray    140000  104  99   x000D  numArray   numArray sort    x000D  console log numArray  x000D   x000D   x000D    104  140000  99  Conclusion   sort   does sorting by only looking at the first index of the numbers  sort   does not care if a whole number is bigger than another  it compares the value of the unicode of the digits  and if there are two equal unicode values  then it checks if there is a next digit and compares it as well   To sort correctly  you have to pass a compare function to sort   like explained here

[javascript] How to sort an array of integers correctly

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