---
title: ES|QL MV_SORT function
description: 
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/query-languages/esql/functions-operators/mv-functions/mv_sort
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# ES|QL MV_SORT function
<applies-to>
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available
</applies-to>

Sorts the values in a multi-value field.

## Syntax

![Embedded](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/query-languages/esql/images/generated/x-pack-esql/functions/mv_sort.svg)


## Parameters

<definitions>
  <definition term="field">
    Expression that can be null, a single value, or multiple values. If `null`, the function returns `null`.
  </definition>
  <definition term="order">
    Sort order. The valid options are ASC and DESC, the default is ASC.
  </definition>
</definitions>


## Description

Sorts a multivalued field in lexicographical order.

## Supported types


| field         | order   | result        |
|---------------|---------|---------------|
| boolean       | keyword | boolean       |
| boolean       |         | boolean       |
| date          | keyword | date          |
| date          |         | date          |
| date_nanos    | keyword | date_nanos    |
| date_nanos    |         | date_nanos    |
| double        | keyword | double        |
| double        |         | double        |
| integer       | keyword | integer       |
| integer       |         | integer       |
| ip            | keyword | ip            |
| ip            |         | ip            |
| keyword       | keyword | keyword       |
| keyword       |         | keyword       |
| long          | keyword | long          |
| long          |         | long          |
| text          | keyword | keyword       |
| text          |         | keyword       |
| unsigned_long | keyword | unsigned_long |
| unsigned_long |         | unsigned_long |
| version       | keyword | version       |
| version       |         | version       |


## Example

```esql
ROW a = [4, 2, -3, 2]
| EVAL sa = mv_sort(a), sd = mv_sort(a, "DESC")
```


| a:integer     | sa:integer    | sd:integer    |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| [4, 2, -3, 2] | [-3, 2, 2, 4] | [4, 2, 2, -3] |