arrange( )

Sort rows by one or more columns. arrange() is from the dplyr package, which is part of the tidyverse.

Original Documentation ↗ dplyr Cheatsheet ↗

Required Library

install.packages("tidyverse")
library(tidyverse)

Syntax

# Pipe style
df %>% arrange(column)

# Non-pipe style
arrange(df, column)

df %>% arrange(column) and arrange(df, column) sort the rows of a data frame by the chosen column. By default, values are sorted in ascending order.

df %>% arrange(column1, desc(column2))

Use more than one column when rows should be sorted by a primary key and then a secondary key. Wrap a column in desc() when you want descending order.

When do you use arrange()?

Use arrange() when row order matters for inspection, printing, or downstream steps. Common examples are finding the greatest or smallest values, ordering time points, or sorting batches before export.

Examples

Sort one column in ascending order

Sort one column in descending order

Sort by more than one column

First sort by batch, then sort within each batch by tablet weight.

Arrange grouped data with .by_group = TRUE

When data is already grouped, .by_group = TRUE keeps rows ordered by group first, then by the columns you supply.

See where missing values go

Missing values are sorted last

For ordinary data frames and tibbles, arrange() places NA values at the end, even when sorting in descending order.

Argument Overview

Required arguments must be included when using a function while optional arguments can be included on demand.

.data data frame | tibble Required

The data frame to sort. In a pipe (%>%), this is passed automatically from the left-hand side.

tablet_weights %>% arrange(weight_mg)

Data Types: data.frame | tibble

… — sorting columns or expressions column name(s) | expression(s) Required

One or more columns to sort by. Earlier columns have higher priority. Use desc(column_name) to reverse the sorting direction for a column.

arrange(tablet_weights, batch, desc(weight_mg))

Data Types: column names or expressions such as desc(weight_mg)

.by_group — sort by grouping variables first logical Optional

When the data is already grouped, .by_group = TRUE sorts rows by the grouping columns before applying the sorting columns in ....

dissolution %>%
  group_by(tablet_id) %>%
  arrange(desc(time_min), .by_group = TRUE)

Data Types: logical · Default: FALSE

.locale — locale used for sorting text character Optional

Controls how character strings are ordered when locale-specific sorting rules matter. Most beginners can keep the default.

arrange(products, product_name, .locale = "en")

Data Types: locale name as character · Default: NULL