# Default Sort Order in Constant Score Query

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [August 13, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112 "2019-08-13T21:41:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Spock\_Tgai](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/spock_tgai/32/48680_2.png) [@Spock\_Tgai](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Spock_Tgai)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112/1 "2019-08-13T21:41:32Z")

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Hi, I wanted to know what is the default sort order for elasticsearch when using a constant score query. Also what is the mechanism for tie breaking.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![spinscale](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/spinscale/32/25011_2.png) [@spinscale](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/spinscale)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112/2 "2019-08-14T08:18:02Z")

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there is no guaranteed order in constant score and no tie breaker (internally it is about internal ids within lucene, but this could change anytime within a lucene release, despite it being unlikely).

Is there any question hidden behind the question? What is the reason for asking this?

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**Author:** ![Spock\_Tgai](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/spock_tgai/32/48680_2.png) [@Spock\_Tgai](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Spock_Tgai)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112/3 "2019-08-14T15:21:12Z")

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Thank you for replying the reason for asking this is I am implementing a ranking based on match information instead of tfidf, so wanted to understand the tie breaking behavior.

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**Author:** ![spinscale](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/spinscale/32/25011_2.png) [@spinscale](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/spinscale)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 7:10am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112/4 "2019-08-15T07:10:15Z")

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as sorting can be based on multiple values, it might be best to just sort based on multiple criterias - however if the score is constant, then sorting by another criteria only makes sense. The `script_score` query is most interesting for you I assume.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Spock\_Tgai](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/spock_tgai/32/48680_2.png) [@Spock\_Tgai](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Spock_Tgai)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112/5 "2019-08-15T18:03:23Z")

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Thank you will try that out.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/default-sort-order-in-constant-score-query/195112/6 "2019-09-12T18:03:25Z")

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