Sort Numpy Array in Descending Order – A Simple Guide – NumPy Tutorial

We can not sort a numpy array in descending order directly. In this tutorial, we will introduce you how to do.

We can use numpy.sort() + numpy.flip() to implement it.

numpy.sort(): it will sort an array in ascending order.

It is defined as:

numpy.sort(a, axis=- 1, kind=None, order=None)

numpy.flip(): it will reverse the order of elements in an array.

numpy.flip(): Reverse the Order of Elements in Array – NumPy Tutorial

How to sort an array in descending order?

Here we will use an example to show you how to do.

import numpy as np

data = np.random.random([3,4])

print(data)
x = np.sort(data, axis = 1)
print("in ascending order axis = 1:")
print(x)

x = np.flip(x, axis = 1)
print("in descending order axis = 1:")
print(x)

Run this code, we will see:

[[2.58593345e-01 4.92161837e-01 3.90792782e-01 5.54329892e-01]
 [6.03188609e-01 4.75686077e-01 5.71715299e-05 5.67659390e-01]
 [9.11993114e-01 2.63952876e-01 3.33518342e-01 5.09930498e-01]]
in ascending order axis = 1:
[[2.58593345e-01 3.90792782e-01 4.92161837e-01 5.54329892e-01]
 [5.71715299e-05 4.75686077e-01 5.67659390e-01 6.03188609e-01]
 [2.63952876e-01 3.33518342e-01 5.09930498e-01 9.11993114e-01]]
in descending order axis = 1:
[[5.54329892e-01 4.92161837e-01 3.90792782e-01 2.58593345e-01]
 [6.03188609e-01 5.67659390e-01 4.75686077e-01 5.71715299e-05]
 [9.11993114e-01 5.09930498e-01 3.33518342e-01 2.63952876e-01]]