How to Sort Numbers in Descending Order in JavaScript

Sort Numbers in Descending Order in JavaScript

Sorting numbers in descending order means arranging them from largest to smallest. In JavaScript, this is a common task when displaying ranked data such as scores, prices, or any numeric values where priority decreases downward. However, JavaScript’s built-in sort() method doesn’t sort numbers the way you might expect unless you give it some direction.

By default, the sort() function treats array elements as strings. So when you sort numbers without a compare function, the results may be unexpected. Fortunately, with a small tweak, sorting in descending order becomes straightforward. Let’s explore multiple methods for this task.

Method 1: Using sort() with a Descending Compare Function

This is the most reliable and recommended method. You provide a compare function to sort() that subtracts b - a. This tells JavaScript to place higher numbers first.

const scores = [12, 95, 7, 44, 100];

scores.sort((a, b) => b - a);

console.log("Descending order:", scores);

Descending order: [ 100, 95, 44, 12, 7 ]

Method 2: Sort Ascending First, Then Reverse

Another way to sort numbers in descending order is to first sort them in ascending order, and then use reverse(). This two-step process can be easier for beginners to grasp conceptually, though it’s slightly less efficient.

const numbers = [5, 20, 3, 17, 9];

numbers.sort((a, b) => a - b);
numbers.reverse();

console.log("Descending using reverse:", numbers);

Descending using reverse: [ 20, 17, 9, 5, 3 ]

Method 3: Manual Sorting (Bubble Sort in Descending Order)

For educational purposes, here’s how you can implement a basic bubble sort to arrange numbers in descending order manually. This method is not recommended for production, but it helps beginners understand the inner workings of sorting.

const items = [1, 4, 9, 2, 8];

for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
  for (let j = 0; j < items.length - 1; j++) {
    if (items[j] < items[j + 1]) {
      [items[j], items[j + 1]] = [items[j + 1], items[j]];
    }
  }
}

console.log("Bubble sorted descending:", items);

Bubble sorted descending: [ 9, 8, 4, 2, 1 ]

When to Use Each Method

If you want quick, efficient, and clean code, stick with Method 1 using sort((a, b) => b - a). It’s the standard solution for sorting numbers in descending order. Method 2 is useful if you’ve already written logic for ascending order and need a quick flip. Manual sorting is mainly for learning purposes and understanding the algorithmic logic behind sorting.

Final Thoughts

Sorting is one of those essential building blocks that keeps popping up in everyday JavaScript tasks. Whether you're displaying scores on a leaderboard, organizing prices from high to low, or simply learning how to manipulate data arrays—understanding how to sort in descending order gives you more control over your applications.

The beauty of JavaScript lies in its flexibility, and with a few lines of code, you can turn unordered chaos into structured clarity. Practice different sorting methods, explore edge cases like negative numbers or decimals, and watch your coding confidence grow.