What is the difference between .sort() and .reverse() in JavaScript?

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Key Differences
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Syntax
  • 3. Return Value
• Practical Examples
  • Example of .sort()
  • Example of .reverse()
• Conclusion

Introduction

In JavaScript, the .sort() and .reverse() methods are commonly used for array manipulation. While both methods affect the order of elements in an array, they serve different purposes and operate in distinct ways.

Key Differences

1. Purpose

• .sort(): Used to sort the elements of an array in place according to a specified order (either ascending or descending). By default, it sorts elements as strings.
• .reverse(): Used to reverse the order of the elements in an array. It does not sort the array but simply flips the order of existing elements.

2. Syntax

• .sort(compareFunction): Accepts an optional comparison function to determine the order of elements. If no function is provided, the elements are converted to strings and sorted in UTF-16 code unit order.
• .reverse(): Takes no arguments and reverses the elements of the array in place.

3. Return Value

• .sort(): Returns the sorted array (which is the same reference as the original array).
• .reverse(): Returns the reversed array (also the same reference as the original array).

Practical Examples

Example of .sort()

Example of .reverse()

Conclusion

In summary, the .sort() method is used to arrange elements in a specific order (either by default or based on a custom comparison function), while the .reverse() method is solely focused on flipping the order of elements in an array. Understanding these differences helps in effectively manipulating arrays in JavaScript.