# I want to sort items by the array of numbers
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/i-want-to-sort-items-by-the-array-of-numbers/333981
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [May 22, 2023, 7:16am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/i-want-to-sort-items-by-the-array-of-numbers/333981 "2023-05-22T07:16:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CookiesPrompt](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/CookiesPrompt)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2023, 7:16am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/i-want-to-sort-items-by-the-array-of-numbers/333981/1 "2023-05-22T07:16:54Z")
Hello! I am using elasticsearch version 7.11 and I want to sort items by the array of numbers: lucky\_numbers.number\_list
A have a lot of elements like below and arrays have a dynamic length, example:
```auto
_source {
"game.name": "Twisted Game",
"lucky_numbers": [
{
"number_list": "9"
},
{
"number_list": "11"
},
{
"number_list": "102"
}
]
},
....
_source {
"game.name": "Number Roulette",
"lucky_numbers": [
{
"number_list": "10"
},
{
"number_list": "11"
},
{
"number_list": "99"
},
{
"number_list": "102"
}
]
},
....
_source {
"game.name": "Numeric Odyssey",
"lucky_numbers": [
{
"number_list": "9"
},
{
"number_list": "12"
},
{
"number_list": "100"
}
]
}
```
If I use a sorting script and concatenate these sorted numbers into a string, I get the order:
"10,11,99,102"
"9,11,102",
"9,12,100"
But I want the correct numerical order:
"9,11,102",
"9,12,100"
"10,11,99,102"
How can I do this? I know that sort have e.g. option mode:min for arrays, but I want to consider all numbers in array, not just the lowest value. Can I write my own comparator?
---
### Author:  [@RabBit\_BR](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/RabBit_BR)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/i-want-to-sort-items-by-the-array-of-numbers/333981/2 "2023-05-22T15:07:50Z")
Hi @CookiesPrompt
I noticed that there are some answers [here](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/76303924/how-can-i-sort-items-by-the-array-of-numbers-in-elasticsearch) to your question. However, I believe that when working with arrays and scripts it would be good to be careful with the performance of the search query.
As you said, this array does not have a fixed size and depending on that, your search queries may not have the expected performance.
If that's not a concern, it's fine to use scripts. I usually always try to index the data in a way that it is not necessary to do this type of manipulation, for example: you need to sort the array but wouldn't it be better to index the document with the sorted array? Your application can do this or if you want to leave this responsibility to elasticsearch, you can create a [pipeline](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/script-processor.html) that will sort this array and index it in the sorting you want. This avoids the use of scripts in the search query.
Of course, once you remove the search script and start using it at indexing time, the index time may increase but if this is not a strong requirement for you, then it may be acceptable.
Anyway, you already have the answers in another forum but I believe it is worth paying attention to the other points.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/i-want-to-sort-items-by-the-array-of-numbers/333981/3 "2023-06-19T15:08:13Z")
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