Sort arranges records in a specific order based on keys within each record, such as alphabetically or numerically. Filter produces a new data structure containing only elements that meet a given criteria, such as returning true for a given predicate. While different, the terms are often used interchangeably by users who may not fully understand the distinction. However, this confusion does not significantly impact users as filter has evolved to be generally intuitive and user-friendly in applications.

1. 5 Whole Minutes About Sort and Filter Danielle Cooley @dgcooley IUE 2011

2. Sort, defined to place (records) in order, as numerical or alphabetical, based on the contents of one or more keys contained in each record

3. Like this:

4. Filter, defined a higher-order function that processes a data structure (typically a list) in some order to produce a new data structure containing exactly those elements of the original data structure for which a given predicate returns the boolean value true

5. Like this:

6. They are not the same. =/= Sort Filter

7. Yet many misuse the terms. !

8. Do users understand the difference? Probably not. But it doesn’t really matter. Somehow, filter has (mostly) evolved in a user-friendly way.

9. Sort – Link

10. Sort – Dropdown

11. Sort – Jigga-WHA?!

12. Sort – Sorting by the Usual Things… Price – high to low Price – low to high Name Review/Rating Popularity Bestsellers Best Match (?)

13. Sort – Sorting by Other Things… Bestsellers/Popularity Greatest % off New Arrivals “Featured”

14. Sort – Sorting by Specific Things… Publication Date Dimensions (all 3)

15. Sort – What’s the Default? Bestsellers/Popularity Greatest % off New Arrivals

16. Sort – Not Sorting

17. Filter – Single-Select (link)

18. Filter – Single-Select (dropdown)

19. Filter – Multi-Select (checkboxes)

20. Filter – Sliders