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sort vs order

To arrange data in sequence, always say "sort". "Order" as a verb means giving a command or placing a request, not arranging data. The one exception is SQL's ORDER BY, which is a fixed keyword, not a verb you choose.

sort

The standard verb for arranging data in a specific sequence (ascending, descending, alphabetical). This is the word to use in code and in conversation whenever you mean "ordenar" data.

"Sort the results by timestamp before returning them to the client."

order

As a verb, it means to give a command or to place a request ("order food", "the manager ordered a fix"). In programming it almost never means to sort data, except in SQL's ORDER BY clause.

"SELECT * FROM events ORDER BY created_at DESC;"

Interview tip

If asked to describe an algorithm, say "sort the array" or "sort by key", never "order the array". You can say "in ascending order" or "in sorted order" because "order" works as a noun, just not as the verb for arranging data.

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