PHP-Sort array based on another array?

Pretty simple ?

$data = array(
   "item1"=>"1",
   "item2"=>"3",
   "item3"=>"5",
   "item4"=>"2",
   "item5"=>"4"
);

$sortingArr = array("5","4","3","2","1");

$result = array(); // result array
foreach($sortingArr as $val){ // loop
    $result[array_search($val, $data)] = $val; // adding values
}
print_r($result); // print results

Output:

Array
(
    [item3] => 5
    [item5] => 4
    [item2] => 3
    [item4] => 2
    [item1] => 1
)

For a detailed answer, why array_multisort does not match your needs, view this answer, please: PHP array_multisort not sorting my multidimensional array as expected

In short: You want to sort an array based on a predefined order. The Answer is also given over there, but i copied one solution to this answer, too:

Use usort and array_flip, so you be able to turn your indexing array (ValueByPosition) into a PositionByValue Array.

    $data = array(
   "item1"=>"1",
   "item2"=>"3",
   "item3"=>"5",
   "item4"=>"2",
   "item5"=>"4"
);

usort($data, "sortByPredefinedOrder");

function sortByPredefinedOrder($leftItem, $rightItem){
  $order = array("5","4","3","2","1");

  $flipped = array_flip($order);

  $leftPos = $flipped[$leftItem];
  $rightPos = $flipped[$rightItem];
  return $leftPos >= $rightPos;   
}

print_r($data);
// usort: Array ( [0] => 5 [1] => 4 [2] => 3 [3] => 2 [4] => 1 )
// uasort: Array ( [item3] => 5 [item5] => 4 [item2] => 3 [item4] => 2 [item1] => 1 )

However this would require you to predict all possible items inside the predefined order array, or thread other items in an appropriate way.

If you want to maintain the assoc keys, use uasort instead of usort.

Take a look at array_multisort. I'm not completely sure how to use it, as I have never found a practical use for it (I prefer to use usort to clearly define my terms), but it might work for you.

Look at my following snippet to sort your array based on another array:

$res_arr = array(); 
for ($i = 0; $i < count($sortingArr); $i++) {
     for ($j = 0; $j < count($data); $j++) {
          if($data[$j] == $sortingArr[$i]) {
             $res_arr[] = $data[$j];
             break;
          }
     }
}
// $res_array is your sorted array now

<?php 
$data = array(
   "item1"=>"1",
   "item2"=>"3",
   "item3"=>"5",
   "item4"=>"2",
   "item5"=>"4"
);
$result=array_flip($data);

krsort($result);

$result=array_flip($result);

print_r($result);

//use rsort for the index array

$sortingArr = array("5","4","3","2","1");

print_r($sortingArr);