# How to sort by minimum distance between multiple fields **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [July 9, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635 "2019-07-09T22:32:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dailydm1227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@dailydm1227](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dailydm1227)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/1 "2019-07-09T22:32:59Z")
I would like to sort results based on the minimum distance found from a few different `geo_point` fields. Here is a basic example: Mapping: ```auto { "companies" : { "mappings" : { "_doc" : { "properties" : { "location" : { "properties" : { "lat" : { "type" : "float" }, "lon" : { "type" : "float" } } }, "service_cities" : { "properties" : { "location" : { "properties" : { "lat" : { "type" : "float" }, "lon" : { "type" : "float" } } } } } } } } } } ``` What I would like to do is query the index with a lat, lon pair and get results sorted based on minimum `geo_distance` from `location` or any of the `service_cities.location`s. For example, if my index looked something like this: ```auto { "took" : 1, "timed_out" : false, "_shards" : { "total" : 5, "successful" : 5, "skipped" : 0, "failed" : 0 }, "hits" : { "total" : 2, "max_score" : 1.0, "hits" : [ { "_index" : "companies", "_type" : "_doc", "_id" : "2", "_score" : 1.0, "_source" : { // New York City, NY "location" : { "lat" : 40.73061, "lon" : -73.935242 }, "service_cities" : [ { // Denver, CO "location" : { "lat" : 39.742043, "lon" : -104.991531 } } ] } }, { "_index" : "companies", "_type" : "_doc", "_id" : "1", "_score" : 1.0, "_source" : { // Phoenix, AZ "location" : { "lat" : 33.448376, "lon" : -112.074036 }, "service_cities" : [ { // San Francisco, CA "location" : { "lat" : 37.773972, "lon" : -122.431297 } }, { // Las Vegas, NV "location" : { "lat" : 36.114647, "lon" : -115.172813 } } ] } } ] } } ``` And I searched for the companies matching the coordinates of Denver, CO. I would expect the results to be `doc2, doc1` since document 2 has a service city nearest to Denver. However, if document 2 did not have that service city, I would expect the order to be `doc1, doc2` since document 1 has a location or a service city closest to Denver. From what I have read and played with, it seems like the best way to do this would be with using a `script` in sort, as using multiple `_geo_distance` entries in sort clearly does not work. Any advice would be appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/2 "2019-07-10T05:05:17Z")
As it's within the same document, can't you compute that at index time so sorting is then obvious and very fast? ---
**Author:** ![dailydm1227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@dailydm1227](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dailydm1227)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/3 "2019-07-10T14:36:29Z")
@dadoonet thanks for your quick response! If I understand correctly, you are suggesting to calculate the distances from `location` and `service_citites.location` when indexing the document, storing the value, and sorting on that value at query time. I am not sure how this will work though as I will be searching for a variety of locations across the US, so at index time, I will not know the distance between the searched location and the locations stored in my documents. ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/4 "2019-07-10T15:12:43Z")
But in the example you mentioned, you have a `location` and `service_cities.location`. I thought you wanted to computed that distance... ---
**Author:** ![dailydm1227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@dailydm1227](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dailydm1227)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/5 "2019-07-10T16:23:29Z")
Sorry for the confusion, I will try to clarify. Basically, I will be searching my index with a users lat/lon. When I search my index, I want results to be sorted based on the `location` OR `service_cities.location` that is closest to the users lat/lon. Does that make more sense? ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/6 "2019-07-10T16:28:15Z")
It does. Is there any priority you want to have on `location` vs `service_cities.location` or the closer, whatever the field is, is what you want? ---
**Author:** ![dailydm1227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@dailydm1227](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dailydm1227)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/7 "2019-07-10T16:39:06Z")
No priority on `location` vs. `service_cities.location`, just the whatever is closer ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 8:20am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/8 "2019-07-12T08:20:34Z")
I wonder if something like this would work for you? ```auto DELETE test PUT test { "mappings": { "properties": { "loc4sorting": { "type": "geo_point" }, "location": { "type": "geo_point" }, "service_cities": { "properties": { "location": { "type": "geo_point" } } } } } } PUT test/_doc/1 { "loc4sorting": [ { "lat": 40.73061, "lon": -73.935242 }, { "lat": 39.742043, "lon": -104.991531 } ], "location": { "lat": 40.73061, "lon": -73.935242 }, "service_cities": [ { "location": { "lat": 39.742043, "lon": -104.991531 } } ] } GET test/_search { "sort": [ { "_geo_distance": { "loc4sorting": [ -70, 40 ], "unit": "km" } } ] } ``` Basically, copy in a specific field all values you need to sort by. ---
**Author:** ![dailydm1227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@dailydm1227](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dailydm1227)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/9 "2019-07-15T16:54:31Z")
Ah yes, that did end up working for me. Thanks for all your help! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-sort-by-minimum-distance-between-multiple-fields/189635/10 "2019-08-12T16:54:34Z")
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