Sort a Matrix
Sort matrix rows or columns. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
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Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Sort a Matrix
- 1. Paste your matrix. Enter the matrix as rows on separate lines with values separated by spaces. Sorting rearranges the same values, keeping the overall shape intact.
- 2. Choose what to sort. Pick Values within each row, Values within each column, or Whole rows by first element from the Sort setting, depending on which structure you want ordered.
- 3. Choose the order and separator. Pick Ascending or Descending for Order, and set Element separator to control how values are split and rejoined in the output.
- 4. Copy the sorted matrix. The output pane shows the matrix rearranged according to your settings. Copy it into a spreadsheet, report, or further calculation.
When to use Sort a Matrix
Sort a Matrix reorders the values inside a matrix, whether within each row, within each column, or by moving whole rows based on their first element. Use it whenever a matrix's raw values are correct but their arrangement needs cleaning up.
- Ordering scores within each row of a gradebook. A gradebook matrix has student scores per assignment in each row, and sorting values within each row shows the low-to-high spread for each student without touching column meaning.
- Ranking rows by a leading identifier. You have a matrix where the first column is a rank or index, and sorting whole rows by that first element brings the data into the correct display order for a report.
- Sorting values within each measurement column. A dataset in matrix form needs each column's values sorted independently to compute medians or percentiles per variable, without changing which row a value originally belonged to.
- Preparing sorted output for a comparison table. You want a matrix with descending order applied so the largest values appear first in a summary table, matching the presentation style of a report or dashboard.
Examples
Sort the values in each row
Input
3 1 2 9 7 8
Output
1 2 3 7 8 9
Reorder whole rows by their first element
Input
5 0 2 9 4 4
Output
2 9 4 4 5 0
About the Sort a Matrix tool
Sort a Matrix runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Sort matrix rows or columns. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's Math Tools section, 234 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
You can shape the output with 3 settings, including Sort, Order and Element separator, and the result refreshes the moment you change one. 2 worked examples further down the page show exactly what the tool produces for real inputs.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sort a Matrix free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.