Question

The array below should be sorted by the first number of cat_url_title in an ascending direction.

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [cat_id] => 14
            [parent_id] => 2
            [cat_url_title] => 20-a-43m
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [cat_id] => 13
            [parent_id] => 2
            [cat_url_title] => 16-a-20m            
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [cat_id] => 12
            [parent_id] => 2
            cat_url_title] => 12-a-16m
        )
)

//get the first number
foreach( $arr as $k => $v )
{
    $segs = explode("-",$v['cat_url_title']);
    $nbr = $segs[0]; //this will be 20, 16 or 12
} 

The subarray with the cat_url_title value starting with 12 should become $arr[0], 16 should remain as $arr[1], and 20 should move to $arr[2].

How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

you’re on a good way, after getting the first numbers create a new array containing the number as a key and the contents of the array as value:

$newArray = array();
foreach($arr as $k => $v)
{
  $segs = explode("-", $v['cat_url_title']);
  $newArray[ $segs[0] ] = $v;
}
ksort($newArray);
print_r($newArray);

that should work.