PHP MySQL Use ORDER BY – Complete Tutorial

Sorting database records is a very common requirement in dynamic websites. Whether you want to display users alphabetically, latest posts first, or highest prices on top, the MySQL ORDER BY clause makes it possible.

This tutorial explains how to use ORDER BY in PHP MySQL with clear examples and outputs.

What Is ORDER BY in PHP MySQL?

The ORDER BY clause is used in SQL to sort the result set returned by a SELECT query.

It can sort data:

In ascending order (ASC)
In descending order (DESC)

Basic syntax:

SELECT column_name FROM table_name ORDER BY column_name;

Prerequisites for Using ORDER BY in PHP

Before using ORDER BY, you should have:

A working PHP MySQL connection
A table with data
Basic understanding of SELECT queries

Sample MySQL Table Used in This Tutorial

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(100),
    email VARCHAR(100),
    age INT
);

PHP MySQL Database Connection Code

<?php
$conn = mysqli_connect("localhost", "root", "", "testdb");

if (!$conn) {
    die("Database connection failed");
}
?>

Select Data Using ORDER BY in PHP MySQL

<?php
$query = "SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY name";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Output:

Amit
Neha
Rahul

By default, ORDER BY sorts data in ascending order.

Using ORDER BY ASC in PHP MySQL

<?php
$query = "SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY age ASC";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . " - " . $row['age'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Output:

Neha - 22
Rahul - 25
Amit - 30

Using ORDER BY DESC in PHP MySQL

<?php
$query = "SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY age DESC";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . " - " . $row['age'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Output:

Amit - 30
Rahul - 25
Neha - 22

ORDER BY with Multiple Columns in PHP MySQL

<?php
$query = "SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY age ASC, name ASC";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . " - " . $row['age'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Output:

Neha - 22
Rahul - 25
Amit - 30

ORDER BY with LIMIT in PHP MySQL

<?php
$query = "SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 2";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Output:

Neha
Amit

ORDER BY with WHERE Clause in PHP MySQL

<?php
$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 20 ORDER BY name";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Output:

Amit
Neha
Rahul

Secure ORDER BY Queries in PHP MySQL

When column names come from user input, always validate them manually because prepared statements cannot bind column names.

<?php
$allowed_columns = ['name', 'age'];
$order = in_array($_GET['order'], $allowed_columns) ? $_GET['order'] : 'name';

$query = "SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY $order";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $query);
?>

Common Mistakes When Using ORDER BY

Forgetting ASC or DESC meaning
Using ORDER BY without SELECT
Sorting by non-indexed columns in large tables
Allowing user input without validation

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Best Practices for ORDER BY in PHP MySQL

Use indexes on frequently sorted columns
Combine ORDER BY with LIMIT for performance
Validate column names if dynamic
Avoid sorting large datasets unnecessarily

Link this tutorial with related topics:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is ORDER BY used for?

It sorts query results in ascending or descending order.

2. What is default order of ORDER BY?

Ascending order (ASC).

3. Can ORDER BY sort text values?

Yes, alphabetically.

4. Can I use ORDER BY with LIMIT?

Yes, it is very common.

5. Is ORDER BY case-sensitive?

It depends on database collation.