How do I control the order of this multidimensional array, based on a particular value?

Question

After reading several posts here about this subject, I am unable to find the exact answer to my problem.

My current array is:

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [Level] => Bronze
            [Name] => JP Morgan
            [Logo] => Logo
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [Level] => Bronze
            [Name] => NASDAQ OMX
            [Logo] => Logo
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [Level] => Platinum
            [Name] => Credit Suisse
            [Logo] => Logo
        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [Level] => Silver
            [Name] => BNP Paribas
            [Logo] => Logo
        )

)

What I want is to have all sponsors sorted by [Level] of which the order is:

• Platinum
• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze

How do I do this?

Answer 1

You could define your own sorting function. For example, you'd specify your own custom order that you want it to follow:

$sort_order = array('Platinum', 'Gold', 'Silver', 'Bronze');

Pass your array with all your data into your custom sort function, and search for the value's key position (in this case, Level) in the sort order you've just defined:

$array = array(
  array (
    'Level' => 'Bronze',
      'Name' => 'JP Morgan',
      'Logo' => 'Logo'
  ),
  array (
      'Level' => 'Bronze',
      'Name' => 'NASDAQ OMX',
      'Logo' => 'Logo'
  ),
  array (
      'Level' => 'Platinum',
      'Name' => 'Credit Suisse',
      'Logo' => 'Logo'
  ),
  array (
      'Level' => 'Silver',
      'Name' => 'BNP Paribas',
      'Logo' => 'Logo'
  ),
);

usort($array, function ($a, $b) use ($sort_order) {
    return array_search($a['Level'], $sort_order) - array_search($b['Level'], $sort_order);
});

print_r($array);

Outputs:

Array
(
[0] => Array
    (
        [Level] => Platinum
        [Name] => Credit Suisse
        [Logo] => Logo
    )

[1] => Array
    (
        [Level] => Silver
        [Name] => BNP Paribas
        [Logo] => Logo
    )

[2] => Array
    (
        [Level] => Bronze
        [Name] => NASDAQ OMX
        [Logo] => Logo
    )

[3] => Array
    (
        [Level] => Bronze
        [Name] => Jp Morgan
        [Logo] => Logo
    )
)