Multiple sorts in an array

Question

I have the following array:

Array
(
[0] => Array
    (
        [note] => test
        [year] => 2011
        [type] => football
    )

[1] => Array
    (
        [note] => test1
        [year] => 2010
        [type] => basket
    )

[2] => Array
    (
        [note] => test2
        [year] => 2012
        [type] => football
    )

[3] => Array
    (
        [note] => test3
        [year] => 2009
        [type] => basket
    )

[4] => Array
    (
        [note] => test4
        [year] => 2010
        [type] => football
    )

)

And I would like to first sort it according another array by type:

For example: $sort = array('football','basket');

And afterwards by year.

How can I do that?

Thanks.

Desired output should be:

Array
(
[2] => Array
    (
        [note] => test2
        [year] => 2012
        [type] => football
    )
[0] => Array
    (
        [note] => test
        [year] => 2011
        [type] => football
    )
[4] => Array
    (
        [note] => test4
        [year] => 2010
        [type] => football
    )

[1] => Array
    (
        [note] => test1
        [year] => 2010
        [type] => basket
    )

[3] => Array
    (
        [note] => test3
        [year] => 2009
        [type] => basket
    )

)

I do not mind if we reset the index values.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Requires a version of PHP that supports closures when run as-is

Your secondary array can be defined outside of the sort itself. If you can't support closures, then this can be put directly into the sort routine.

$sortBy = array('football', 'basket');

Sort routine.

Sorts by year if types are the same, and sorts by the types in your $sortBy array otherwise.

usort($a, function($a, $b) use ($sortBy) {
    if ($a['type'] == $b['type']) {
        return ($b['year'] - $a['year']);
    }
    $typeOrder = array_flip($sortBy);
    return $typeOrder[$a['type']] - $typeOrder[$b['type']];
});