In PHP, what are some alternative methods for sorting arrays based on specific criteria, such as ensuring a certain element is at the top of the list?

When sorting arrays in PHP, you can use the `usort()` function along with a custom comparison function to define specific criteria for sorting. To ensure a certain element is at the top of the list, you can create a custom comparison function that prioritizes that element over others during the sorting process. 

// Example code to sort an array with a specific element at the top
$array = [3, 1, 4, 2, 5]; // Sample array
$specificElement = 4; // Element to be at the top

usort($array, function($a, $b) use ($specificElement) {
    if ($a == $specificElement) {
        return -1; // $a should come before $b
    } elseif ($b == $specificElement) {
        return 1; // $b should come before $a
    } else {
        return $a - $b; // Default comparison
    }
});

print_r($array); // Output: [4, 1, 2, 3, 5]

Keywords

PHP array sorting usort uasort custom sorting algorithm

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