Sort array according to the date property of the objects JavaScript

In JavaScript, sorting an array of objects by date requires converting date strings to Date objects for proper comparison. The Array.sort() method with a custom comparator function handles this efficiently.

Sample Data

Consider an array of objects with date properties:

const arr = [
    {date: "2016-06-08 18:10:00"},
    {date: "2016-04-26 20:01:00"},
    {date: "2017-02-06 14:38:00"},
    {date: "2017-01-18 17:30:21"},
    {date: "2017-01-18 17:24:00"}
];

Using Array.sort() with Date Comparison

The most straightforward approach uses Array.sort() with a comparator function that converts strings to Date objects:

const arr = [
    {date: "2016-06-08 18:10:00"},
    {date: "2016-04-26 20:01:00"},
    {date: "2017-02-06 14:38:00"},
    {date: "2017-01-18 17:30:21"},
    {date: "2017-01-18 17:24:00"}
];

const sortByDate = (arr = []) => {
    arr.sort((a, b) => {
        const dateA = new Date(a.date);
        const dateB = new Date(b.date);
        return dateA < dateB ? -1 : (dateA > dateB ? 1 : 0);
    });
};

sortByDate(arr);
console.log(arr);

[
  { date: '2016-04-26 20:01:00' },
  { date: '2016-06-08 18:10:00' },
  { date: '2017-01-18 17:24:00' },
  { date: '2017-01-18 17:30:21' },
  { date: '2017-02-06 14:38:00' }
]

Simplified Version Using Subtraction

Since Date objects can be subtracted directly, we can simplify the comparator:

const arr2 = [
    {date: "2016-06-08 18:10:00"},
    {date: "2016-04-26 20:01:00"},
    {date: "2017-02-06 14:38:00"}
];

arr2.sort((a, b) => new Date(a.date) - new Date(b.date));
console.log(arr2);

[
  { date: '2016-04-26 20:01:00' },
  { date: '2016-06-08 18:10:00' },
  { date: '2017-02-06 14:38:00' }
]

Sorting in Descending Order

To sort from newest to oldest, reverse the comparison:

const arr3 = [
    {date: "2016-06-08 18:10:00"},
    {date: "2016-04-26 20:01:00"},
    {date: "2017-02-06 14:38:00"}
];

arr3.sort((a, b) => new Date(b.date) - new Date(a.date));
console.log(arr3);

[
  { date: '2017-02-06 14:38:00' },
  { date: '2016-06-08 18:10:00' },
  { date: '2016-04-26 20:01:00' }
]

How It Works

The sort() method uses a comparator function that returns:

• Negative value: first element comes before second
• Positive value: first element comes after second
• Zero: elements are equal

Converting date strings to Date objects enables proper chronological comparison, as string comparison would sort lexicographically rather than chronologically.

Conclusion

Use Array.sort() with Date object conversion for reliable date-based sorting. The subtraction method (new Date(a.date) - new Date(b.date)) provides the cleanest implementation for ascending order.