I thought about return 0 in case of equal value but from what I've seen, sort() places equal values next to each other in the sorted array even without it. I figured this could allow me to keep my code even shorter.
Have you seen any case where this could lead to errors?
Software developer with interest in all parts of CS, specially into UI and ML at the moment.
Outside of CS I am total outdoor person and currently i am trying to learn piano and german.
Not actually error but only if you care about keeping original order.
For example:
[{fName: "john", lName: "doe"}, {fName: "john", lName: "smith"}]
When stable sort (returning 0 for equal) on name it would always return
[{fName: "john", lName: "doe"}, {fName: "john", lName: "smith"}]
But when unstable (returning 1 when greater, -1 every other time or opposite) once will return above next time might opposite order
[{fName: "john", lName: "smith"}, {fName: "john", lName: "doe"}]
I hadn't thought of that! Indeed, I just tested it several times and it IS unstable if you don't return 0 for equal values. I edited the post to include it.
Software developer with interest in all parts of CS, specially into UI and ML at the moment.
Outside of CS I am total outdoor person and currently i am trying to learn piano and german.
Hey thanks for reading!
I thought about return 0 in case of equal value but from what I've seen, sort() places equal values next to each other in the sorted array even without it. I figured this could allow me to keep my code even shorter.
Have you seen any case where this could lead to errors?
Not actually error but only if you care about keeping original order.
For example:
[{fName: "john", lName: "doe"}, {fName: "john", lName: "smith"}]
When stable sort (returning 0 for equal) on name it would always return
[{fName: "john", lName: "doe"}, {fName: "john", lName: "smith"}]
But when unstable (returning 1 when greater, -1 every other time or opposite) once will return above next time might opposite order
[{fName: "john", lName: "smith"}, {fName: "john", lName: "doe"}]
So it more depends on requirements
I hadn't thought of that! Indeed, I just tested it several times and it IS unstable if you don't return 0 for equal values. I edited the post to include it.
Thank you so much for this!
NP it is really good post regardless :)