How to sort in R ?
In this chapter we will learn how to sort a data frame and vector in R.·
- Sorting a vector in R can be done with sort () function.
- Sorting a data frame in R can be done with order() function.
How to sort in R – sorting a data frame:
Lets use mtcars data to describe sorting a data frame in R with order() function.
Sort by single column in R:
Lets sort mtcars by mpg column
# sort by mpg - using order function in R mtcars[order(mtcars$mpg),]
output:
| mpg | cyl | disp | hp | drat | wt | qsec | vs | am | gear | carb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac Fleetwood | 10.4 | 8 | 472 | 205 | 2.93 | 5.25 | 17.98 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 10.4 | 8 | 460 | 215 | 3 | 5.424 | 17.82 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Camaro Z28 | 13.3 | 8 | 350 | 245 | 3.73 | 3.84 | 15.41 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Duster 360 | 14.3 | 8 | 360 | 245 | 3.21 | 3.57 | 15.84 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Chrysler Imperial | 14.7 | 8 | 440 | 230 | 3.23 | 5.345 | 17.42 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Maserati Bora | 15 | 8 | 301 | 335 | 3.54 | 3.57 | 14.6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Merc 450SLC | 15.2 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 3.78 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| AMC Javelin | 15.2 | 8 | 304 | 150 | 3.15 | 3.435 | 17.3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Dodge Challenger | 15.5 | 8 | 318 | 150 | 2.76 | 3.52 | 16.87 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Ford Pantera L | 15.8 | 8 | 351 | 264 | 4.22 | 3.17 | 14.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Merc 450SE | 16.4 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 4.07 | 17.4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merc 450SL | 17.3 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 3.73 | 17.6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merc 280C | 17.8 | 6 | 167.6 | 123 | 3.92 | 3.44 | 18.9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Valiant | 18.1 | 6 | 225 | 105 | 2.76 | 3.46 | 20.22 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Hornet Sportabout | 18.7 | 8 | 360 | 175 | 3.15 | 3.44 | 17.02 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Merc 280 | 19.2 | 6 | 167.6 | 123 | 3.92 | 3.44 | 18.3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 19.2 | 8 | 400 | 175 | 3.08 | 3.845 | 17.05 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Ferrari Dino | 19.7 | 6 | 145 | 175 | 3.62 | 2.77 | 15.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Mazda RX4 | 21 | 6 | 160 | 110 | 3.9 | 2.62 | 16.46 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Mazda RX4 Wag | 21 | 6 | 160 | 110 | 3.9 | 2.875 | 17.02 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Hornet 4 Drive | 21.4 | 6 | 258 | 110 | 3.08 | 3.215 | 19.44 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Volvo 142E | 21.4 | 4 | 121 | 109 | 4.11 | 2.78 | 18.6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Toyota Corona | 21.5 | 4 | 120.1 | 97 | 3.7 | 2.465 | 20.01 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Datsun 710 | 22.8 | 4 | 108 | 93 | 3.85 | 2.32 | 18.61 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Merc 230 | 22.8 | 4 | 140.8 | 95 | 3.92 | 3.15 | 22.9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Merc 240D | 24.4 | 4 | 146.7 | 62 | 3.69 | 3.19 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Porsche 914-2 | 26 | 4 | 120.3 | 91 | 4.43 | 2.14 | 16.7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Fiat X1-9 | 27.3 | 4 | 79 | 66 | 4.08 | 1.935 | 18.9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Honda Civic | 30.4 | 4 | 75.7 | 52 | 4.93 | 1.615 | 18.52 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Lotus Europa | 30.4 | 4 | 95.1 | 113 | 3.77 | 1.513 | 16.9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Fiat 128 | 32.4 | 4 | 78.7 | 66 | 4.08 | 2.2 | 19.47 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Toyota Corolla | 33.9 | 4 | 71.1 | 65 | 4.22 | 1.835 | 19.9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Sort by more than one column in R:
Lets sort mtcars by carb and then by cyl
# sort by carb and cyl - using order function in R mtcars[order(mtcars$carb,mtcars$cyl),]
| mpg | cyl | disp | hp | drat | wt | qsec | vs | am | gear | carb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datsun 710 | 22.8 | 4 | 108 | 93 | 3.85 | 2.32 | 18.61 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Fiat 128 | 32.4 | 4 | 78.7 | 66 | 4.08 | 2.2 | 19.47 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Toyota Corolla | 33.9 | 4 | 71.1 | 65 | 4.22 | 1.835 | 19.9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Toyota Corona | 21.5 | 4 | 120.1 | 97 | 3.7 | 2.465 | 20.01 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Fiat X1-9 | 27.3 | 4 | 79 | 66 | 4.08 | 1.935 | 18.9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Hornet 4 Drive | 21.4 | 6 | 258 | 110 | 3.08 | 3.215 | 19.44 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Valiant | 18.1 | 6 | 225 | 105 | 2.76 | 3.46 | 20.22 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Merc 240D | 24.4 | 4 | 146.7 | 62 | 3.69 | 3.19 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Merc 230 | 22.8 | 4 | 140.8 | 95 | 3.92 | 3.15 | 22.9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Honda Civic | 30.4 | 4 | 75.7 | 52 | 4.93 | 1.615 | 18.52 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Porsche 914-2 | 26 | 4 | 120.3 | 91 | 4.43 | 2.14 | 16.7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Lotus Europa | 30.4 | 4 | 95.1 | 113 | 3.77 | 1.513 | 16.9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Volvo 142E | 21.4 | 4 | 121 | 109 | 4.11 | 2.78 | 18.6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Hornet Sportabout | 18.7 | 8 | 360 | 175 | 3.15 | 3.44 | 17.02 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Dodge Challenger | 15.5 | 8 | 318 | 150 | 2.76 | 3.52 | 16.87 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| AMC Javelin | 15.2 | 8 | 304 | 150 | 3.15 | 3.435 | 17.3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 19.2 | 8 | 400 | 175 | 3.08 | 3.845 | 17.05 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Merc 450SE | 16.4 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 4.07 | 17.4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merc 450SL | 17.3 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 3.73 | 17.6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merc 450SLC | 15.2 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 3.78 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Mazda RX4 | 21 | 6 | 160 | 110 | 3.9 | 2.62 | 16.46 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Mazda RX4 Wag | 21 | 6 | 160 | 110 | 3.9 | 2.875 | 17.02 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Merc 280 | 19.2 | 6 | 167.6 | 123 | 3.92 | 3.44 | 18.3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Merc 280C | 17.8 | 6 | 167.6 | 123 | 3.92 | 3.44 | 18.9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Duster 360 | 14.3 | 8 | 360 | 245 | 3.21 | 3.57 | 15.84 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Cadillac Fleetwood | 10.4 | 8 | 472 | 205 | 2.93 | 5.25 | 17.98 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 10.4 | 8 | 460 | 215 | 3 | 5.424 | 17.82 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Chrysler Imperial | 14.7 | 8 | 440 | 230 | 3.23 | 5.345 | 17.42 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Camaro Z28 | 13.3 | 8 | 350 | 245 | 3.73 | 3.84 | 15.41 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Ford Pantera L | 15.8 | 8 | 351 | 264 | 4.22 | 3.17 | 14.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Ferrari Dino | 19.7 | 6 | 145 | 175 | 3.62 | 2.77 | 15.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Maserati Bora | 15 | 8 | 301 | 335 | 3.54 | 3.57 | 14.6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
Sort one column by descending and other column by ascending in R:
In mtcars table, lets sort carb by ascending and cyl by descending. In order to sort by descending include a minus sign in front
#sort carb by ascending and cyl by descending -with sort function in R mtcars[order(mtcars$carb,-mtcars$cyl),]
| mpg | cyl | disp | hp | drat | wt | qsec | vs | am | gear | carb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornet 4 Drive | 21.4 | 6 | 258 | 110 | 3.08 | 3.215 | 19.44 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Valiant | 18.1 | 6 | 225 | 105 | 2.76 | 3.46 | 20.22 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Datsun 710 | 22.8 | 4 | 108 | 93 | 3.85 | 2.32 | 18.61 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Fiat 128 | 32.4 | 4 | 78.7 | 66 | 4.08 | 2.2 | 19.47 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Toyota Corolla | 33.9 | 4 | 71.1 | 65 | 4.22 | 1.835 | 19.9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Toyota Corona | 21.5 | 4 | 120.1 | 97 | 3.7 | 2.465 | 20.01 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Fiat X1-9 | 27.3 | 4 | 79 | 66 | 4.08 | 1.935 | 18.9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Hornet Sportabout | 18.7 | 8 | 360 | 175 | 3.15 | 3.44 | 17.02 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Dodge Challenger | 15.5 | 8 | 318 | 150 | 2.76 | 3.52 | 16.87 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| AMC Javelin | 15.2 | 8 | 304 | 150 | 3.15 | 3.435 | 17.3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 19.2 | 8 | 400 | 175 | 3.08 | 3.845 | 17.05 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Merc 240D | 24.4 | 4 | 146.7 | 62 | 3.69 | 3.19 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Merc 230 | 22.8 | 4 | 140.8 | 95 | 3.92 | 3.15 | 22.9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Honda Civic | 30.4 | 4 | 75.7 | 52 | 4.93 | 1.615 | 18.52 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Porsche 914-2 | 26 | 4 | 120.3 | 91 | 4.43 | 2.14 | 16.7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Lotus Europa | 30.4 | 4 | 95.1 | 113 | 3.77 | 1.513 | 16.9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Volvo 142E | 21.4 | 4 | 121 | 109 | 4.11 | 2.78 | 18.6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Merc 450SE | 16.4 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 4.07 | 17.4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merc 450SL | 17.3 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 3.73 | 17.6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merc 450SLC | 15.2 | 8 | 275.8 | 180 | 3.07 | 3.78 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Duster 360 | 14.3 | 8 | 360 | 245 | 3.21 | 3.57 | 15.84 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Cadillac Fleetwood | 10.4 | 8 | 472 | 205 | 2.93 | 5.25 | 17.98 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 10.4 | 8 | 460 | 215 | 3 | 5.424 | 17.82 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Chrysler Imperial | 14.7 | 8 | 440 | 230 | 3.23 | 5.345 | 17.42 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Camaro Z28 | 13.3 | 8 | 350 | 245 | 3.73 | 3.84 | 15.41 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Ford Pantera L | 15.8 | 8 | 351 | 264 | 4.22 | 3.17 | 14.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Mazda RX4 | 21 | 6 | 160 | 110 | 3.9 | 2.62 | 16.46 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Mazda RX4 Wag | 21 | 6 | 160 | 110 | 3.9 | 2.875 | 17.02 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Merc 280 | 19.2 | 6 | 167.6 | 123 | 3.92 | 3.44 | 18.3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Merc 280C | 17.8 | 6 | 167.6 | 123 | 3.92 | 3.44 | 18.9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Ferrari Dino | 19.7 | 6 | 145 | 175 | 3.62 | 2.77 | 15.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Maserati Bora | 15 | 8 | 301 | 335 | 3.54 | 3.57 | 14.6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
How to sort in R – sorting a vector:
A vector in R can be sorted using a simple sort() function as shown below.
# sort function in R: Ascending order x<-c(3,5,1,2,4,7) sort(x,decreasing=FALSE)
output: the vector is sorted in ascending order
[1] 1 2 3 4 5 7
# sorting with sort function in R: descending order sort(x,decreasing=TRUE)
output: the vector is sorted in descending order
[1] 7 5 4 3 2 1
