How to Use OrderBy for Multiple Columns in Laravel?

In Laravel, you can sort query results by multiple columns using the orderBy() method chained together. This allows you to create complex sorting logic where records are first sorted by one column, then by another column for records with identical values in the first column.

Syntax

The basic syntax for ordering by multiple columns in Laravel is

Model::orderBy('column1', 'ASC/DESC')
     ->orderBy('column2', 'ASC/DESC')
     ->get();

Note: To run the examples below, ensure you have Laravel installed with a configured database connection and a Student model with corresponding database table.

Consider a students table with the following structure

CREATE TABLE students(
   id           INTEGER      NOT  NULL   PRIMARY   KEY,
   name         VARCHAR(50)  NOT NULL,
   email        VARCHAR(50)  NOT NULL,
   created_at   TIMESTAMP    NULL,
   updated_at   TIMESTAMP    NULL,
   address      VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
   age          INTEGER      NOT NULL
);

Sample data in the students table

Example 1: Descending by Name, Ascending by Email

This example sorts students by name in descending order, then by email in ascending order

<?php
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Models\Student;

class StudentController extends Controller {
   public function index() {
      $students = Student::orderBy('name', 'DESC')
                        ->orderBy('email', 'ASC')
                        ->get();
      return $students;
   }
}
?>

The generated SQL query

SELECT * FROM students ORDER BY name DESC, email ASC

Example 2: Multiple Ascending Order

This example demonstrates sorting by multiple columns in ascending order

<?php
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Models\Student;

class StudentController extends Controller {
   public function index() {
      $students = Student::orderBy('name', 'ASC')
                        ->orderBy('age', 'ASC')
                        ->orderBy('email', 'ASC')
                        ->get();
      return $students;
   }
}
?>

The generated SQL query

SELECT * FROM students ORDER BY name ASC, age ASC, email ASC

Alternative Method Using orderByRaw()

You can also use orderByRaw() for more complex sorting

<?php
$students = Student::orderByRaw('name DESC, age ASC, email DESC')
                  ->get();
?>

Conclusion

Laravel's orderBy() method can be chained multiple times to sort by multiple columns. The order of chaining determines the priority first column has highest priority. Use orderByRaw() for complex sorting requirements in a single method call.