Sort database entries

A sort is a condition used to order the entries returned from a database query.

A database query can be sorted by a property and/or timestamp and in a given direction. For example, a library database can be sorted by the "Name of a book" (i.e. property) and in ascending (i.e. direction).

Here is an example of a sort on a database property.

Sorting by "Name" property in ascending direction

{
    "sorts": [
        {
            "property": "Name",
            "direction": "ascending"
        }
    ]
}

Database queries can also be sorted by two or more properties, which is formally called a nested sort. The sort object listed first in the nested sort list takes precedence.

Here is an example of a nested sort.

JSON

{
    "sorts": [
                {
            "property": "Food group",
            "direction": "descending"
        },
        {
            "property": "Name",
            "direction": "ascending"
        }
    ]
}

In this example, the database query will first be sorted by "Food group" and the set with the same food group is then sorted by "Name".

Sort object

Property value sort

This sort orders the database query by a particular property.

The sort object must contain the following properties:

Property	Type	Description	Example value
`property`	`string`	The name of the property to sort against.	`"Ingredients"`
`direction`	`string` (enum)	The direction to sort. Possible values include `"ascending"` and `"descending"`.	`"descending"`

Entry timestamp sort

This sort orders the database query by the timestamp associated with a database entry.

The sort object must contain the following properties:

Property	Type	Description	Example value
`timestamp`	`string` (enum)	The name of the timestamp to sort against. Possible values include `"created_time"` and `"last_edited_time"`.	`"last_edited_time"`
`direction`	`string` (enum)	The direction to sort. Possible values include `"ascending"` and `"descending"`.	`"descending"`

Sort object#

Property value sort#

Entry timestamp sort#

Sort object

Property value sort

Entry timestamp sort