sortrows (MATLAB Function Reference)

Sort rows in ascending order

B = sortrows(A)
B = sortrows(A,column)
[B,index] = sortrows(A)

Description

B = sortrows(A)

sorts the rows of A as a group in ascending order. Argument A must be either a matrix or a column vector.

For strings, this is the familiar dictionary sort. When A is complex, the elements are sorted by magnitude, and, where magnitudes are equal, further sorted by phase angle on the interval

B = sortrows(A,column)

sorts the matrix based on the columns specified in the vector column. For example, sortrows(A,[2 3]) sorts the rows of A by the second column, and where these are equal, further sorts by the third column.

[B,index] = sortrows(A)

also returns an index vector index.

If A is a column vector, then B = A(index).

If A is an m-by-n matrix, then B = A(index,:).

Examples

Given the 5-by-5 string matrix,

A = ['one  ';'two  ';'three';'four ';'five '];

The commands B = sortrows(A) and C = sortrows(A,1) yield

B =              C =
five             four
four             five
one              one
three            two 
two              three