Sorting

A sort is a list of { column, direction } in priority order. It lives in the view, so it is saved with the view and written to the URL.

In the grid

Action	Result
Click a header	Sorts by that column. Click again to flip, a third time clears.
Shift + click a header	Adds the column to the existing sort.
Column menu, first two items	Sort ascending or descending, replacing the sort.
Column menu, Add to sort	Adds the column to the existing sort.
`sort by mrr desc` in the filter	Replaces the sort.

The header shows the direction of each sorted column and sets aria-sort.

Natural direction

A column starts at its natural direction: descending for numbers and dates, ascending for everything else. The column menu labels follow the same rule, High to low for numbers and A to Z for text.

Sorting from code

sort.ts

import { createArraySource, createGrid, createSchema } from 'tally-core'

const schema = createSchema({
  key: 'id',
  columns: [
    { id: 'account', label: 'Account' },
    { id: 'plan', type: 'enum', options: [{ value: 'free' }, { value: 'pro' }, { value: 'team' }] },
    { id: 'mrr', label: 'MRR', type: 'currency' },
    { id: 'notes', sortable: false },
  ],
})

const grid = createGrid({ schema, source: createArraySource([], schema) })

grid.view.toggleSort('plan')
grid.view.toggleSort('mrr', true)

export const sort = grid.view.get().sort

grid.view.setSort([{ column: 'account', direction: 'asc' }])

Method	Effect
`toggleSort(column, additive?)`	Cycles natural direction, flipped, cleared.
`setSort(sorts)`	Replaces the whole sort.

compileSort(sorts, schema, context) and sortRows(rows, sorts, schema, context) in tally-core sort an array outside a grid.

Order

Each column type compares its own values. Enum columns sort in option order, not by label.
Empty values sort last in both directions.
sortable: false on a column removes the sort items from its column menu.

When the source has no sort capability, the grid sorts the rows the source returned. The SQL adapters follow the same order, see the semantics in Node.

Sorting and live rows

When the view is sorted and not grouped, a row changed by a live patch moves to its new position without a reload. See Live updates.

Getting started

Concepts

Guides

Frameworks

Backends

AI and agents

Reference

In the grid

Natural direction

Sorting from code

Order

Sorting and live rows

​In the grid

​Natural direction

​Sorting from code

​Order

​Sorting and live rows

In the grid

Natural direction

Sorting from code

Order

Sorting and live rows