Using PHP's natsort() Function for Natural Order Array Sorting

The natsort() function in PHP sorts an array using a natural order algorithm that mimics the way humans sort alphanumeric strings, while keeping the original keys associated with their values.

Parameters : It accepts a single argument passed by reference – the array to be sorted.

Return value : The function returns TRUE on success and FALSE on failure.

Example :

<?php
$array1 = $array2 = array("img12.png", "img10.png", "img2.png", "img1.png");

// Standard sorting
asort($array1);
echo "Standard sorting
";
print_r($array1);

// Natural order sorting
natsort($array2);
echo "
Natural order sorting
";
print_r($array2);
?>

Output :

Standard sorting
Array
(
    [3] => img1.png
    [1] => img10.png
    [0] => img12.png
    [2] => img2.png
)

Natural order sorting
Array
(
    [3] => img1.png
    [2] => img2.png
    [1] => img10.png
    [0] => img12.png
)

The example demonstrates that standard sorting orders the strings lexicographically ("img1", "img10", "img12", "img2"), whereas natural sorting orders them as a human would expect ("img1", "img2", "img10", "img12").