Sort array of objects based on best matching another array

user_5620626 0
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I have an array of strings which can be seen as a template / reference:

// Template
let template = ['A', 'B', 'C'];

I also have an array of objects containing some of the array's strings:

// Source (to be sorted)
let source = [
   { items: ['B', 'D', 'E'] },
   { items: ['E', 'L', 'Y'] },
   { items: ['G', 'B', 'A'] },
   { items: ['C', 'B', 'A'] }
];

I now need to find a way to sort the items in the source array by matching to the template array (from best to worst). The order of the strings in the items is irrelevant.

Based on my example above, the result after sorting would look like this:

// Result after sorting
let sorted = [
   { items: ['C', 'B', 'A'] }, // 3 matches (A, B, C)
   { items: ['G', 'B', 'A'] }, // 2 matches (A, B)
   { items: ['B', 'D', 'E'] }, // 1 match (B)
   { items: ['E', 'L', 'Y'] } // no match
];

With the JavaScript method .sort() and .localCompare() I can sort an array based on strings but I couldn't find a way to sort by a given array 'template'.

I would be more than happy if somebody knows a way how to do that? Thank you in advance!

sorting arrays javascript
2 Answers

You can base your logic on the size of the Set that contains distinct elements from both template and items. The smaller the Set, the more common items:

const template = ['A', 'B', 'C'];

const source = [
   { items: ['B', 'D', 'E'] },
   { items: ['E', 'L', 'Y'] },
   { items: ['G', 'B', 'A'] },
   { items: ['C', 'B', 'A'] }
];

const target = source
  .map(({items}) => ({items, size: new Set([...items, ...template]).size}))
  .sort((a, b) => a.size - b.size);

console.log(target);

In case you're not dealing with distinct values in your arrays, this might be more appropriate:

const template = ['A', 'B', 'C'];

const source = [
   { items: ['B', 'D', 'E'] },
   { items: ['E', 'L', 'Y'] },
   { items: ['G', 'B', 'A'] },
   { items: ['C', 'B', 'A'] }
];

const target = source
  .map(({items}) => ({
    items,
    size: items.reduce((a, v) => a + template.includes(v), 0)
  }))
  .sort((a, b) => b.size - a.size);

console.log(target);

This can again be further optimized by converting the template to a Set.

user_35589600

You simply need to build a proper sorting function that compares 2 array elements. For example you can count items matching your template.

function sortByMatch(template) {
  const items = new Set(template)
  
  const rank = arr => arr.filter(item => items.has(item)).length
  
  return (a, b) => rank(b.items) - rank(a.items)
}

let template = ['A', 'B', 'C'];

let source = [
   { items: ['B', 'D', 'E'] },
   { items: ['E', 'L', 'Y'] },
   { items: ['G', 'B', 'A'] },
   { items: ['C', 'B', 'A'] }
];

const sorted = source.slice().sort(sortByMatch(template))

console.log(sorted.map(item => item.items.join(', ')))

user_3517050
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