What JSON array sorting is
Reorder object records by one selected property
JSON array sorting compares the same top-level property across every object and reorders the records by that value. UtilityDock detects available fields, applies the selected text, numeric, or date comparison, and preserves every object without uploading the array.
Analytics workflows
Organize records before inspection and reporting
Sort event summaries by score, count, timestamp, or label to reveal high and low values quickly. Stable ordering keeps equal values predictable, while missing and null values remain at the end in both sort directions.
- Rank metrics and summary records numerically
- Order events by an ISO timestamp
- Alphabetize labels before manual review
- Prepare deterministic fixtures for analysis
- Group missing values at the end for cleanup
- Compare sorted and original arrays with JSON Diff
API response organization
Make unordered response records easier to inspect
APIs frequently return arrays in storage or service order. Sorting a local response by name, identifier, amount, or creation date makes debugging and documentation easier without changing object contents.
Data preparation
Create predictable input for downstream work
A stable single-field sort can prepare records for exports, fixtures, review queues, and side-by-side comparisons. Numeric mode accepts JSON numbers, text mode accepts strings, and date mode accepts ISO-8601 strings so incompatible values are reported instead of silently coerced.
Missing-value behavior
Keep incomplete records visible and consistently last
When an object omits the selected field or usesnull, UtilityDock places that object after all compared values. Missing records keep their source order, and the summary reports how many were found.
Examples
Choose the comparison that matches the field
| Mode | Values in ascending order |
|---|---|
| Text | Ada, Grace, Lin |
| Numeric | 2, 7.5, 10 |
| ISO date | 2025-01-02, 2026-01-01, 2026-07-24 |
| Missing | Always after compared values |
Data Toolkit
Continue with related UtilityDock JSON workflows
FAQ
Questions about sorting JSON arrays
Does UtilityDock upload or store my JSON?
No. Your files never leave your computer. Validation, field detection, sorting, preview, copying, and download creation all happen locally inside your browser.
What JSON shape can I sort?
Version 1 accepts a non-empty array of JSON objects at the document root. Each detected top-level property becomes an available sort field.
How are missing and null values sorted?
Objects without the selected property and objects whose selected value is null always remain at the end, whether the chosen direction is ascending or descending. Their source order is preserved.
How does numeric sorting work?
Numeric sorting accepts finite JSON numbers. Numeric-looking strings are not converted automatically, which prevents silent changes to the meaning of your data.
Which date values are supported?
Date sorting accepts standard ISO-8601 strings such as 2026-07-24 and 2026-07-24T18:30:00Z. Other date formats produce a clear sorting error.
What happens when two values are equal?
The sort is stable. Objects with equal selected values keep the same relative order they had in the source array.
Can I sort by more than one field?
No. Version 1 sorts by one selected top-level field and does not support secondary fields, custom comparator expressions, queries, or APIs.