Module is.codion.framework.domain

Package is.codion.framework.domain.entity

Interface OrderBy

public interface OrderBy

Specifies an order by clause for entity queries.

OrderBy instances define how query results should be sorted, supporting multiple columns, ascending/descending order, null value handling, and case-insensitive sorting for strings.

OrderBy can be used in entity definitions as default ordering, or in queries for custom sorting:

public class Store extends DefaultDomain {

    interface Customer {
        EntityType TYPE = DOMAIN.entityType("store.customer");
        Column<String> LAST_NAME = TYPE.stringColumn("last_name");
        Column<String> FIRST_NAME = TYPE.stringColumn("first_name");
        Column<LocalDate> BIRTH_DATE = TYPE.localDateColumn("birth_date");
        Column<Boolean> ACTIVE = TYPE.booleanColumn("active");
    }

    void defineCustomer() {
        // Default ordering for the entity
        Customer.TYPE.define(
                Customer.LAST_NAME.define()
                    .column(),
                Customer.FIRST_NAME.define()
                    .column(),
                Customer.BIRTH_DATE.define()
                    .column(),
                Customer.ACTIVE.define()
                    .column())
            .orderBy(OrderBy.builder()
                .ascending(Customer.LAST_NAME, Customer.FIRST_NAME)
                .build())
            .build();
    }
}

// Query usage examples
// Simple ascending sort
List<Entity> customers = connection.select(
    Select.where(all(Customer.TYPE))
        .orderBy(OrderBy.ascending(Customer.LAST_NAME))
        .build());

// Multiple columns, mixed directions
List<Entity> customersByActiveAndName = connection.select(
    Select.where(all(Customer.TYPE))
        .orderBy(OrderBy.builder()
            .descending(Customer.ACTIVE)  // Active customers first
            .ascendingIgnoreCase(Customer.LAST_NAME, Customer.FIRST_NAME)  // Case-insensitive names
            .build())
        .build());

// With null handling
List<Entity> customersByBirthDate = connection.select(
    Select.where(all(Customer.TYPE))
        .orderBy(OrderBy.builder()
            .ascending(OrderBy.NullOrder.NULLS_LAST, Customer.BIRTH_DATE)
            .build())
        .build());

See Also:

• ascending(Column[])
• descending(Column[])
• builder()

Nested Class Summary

Nested Classes

Modifier and Type	Interface	Description
static interface	OrderBy.Builder	Builds a OrderBy instance.
static enum	OrderBy.NullOrder	Specifies how to handle null values during order by.
static interface	OrderBy.OrderByColumn	Specifies an order by column and whether it's ascending or descending

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method	Description
static OrderBy	ascending(Column<?>... columns)	Creates an ascending OrderBy for the given columns.
static OrderBy.Builder	builder()	Creates a OrderBy.Builder instance.
static OrderBy	descending(Column<?>... columns)	Creates a descending OrderBy for the given columns.
List<OrderBy.OrderByColumn>	orderByColumns()

Method Details

orderByColumns

List<OrderBy.OrderByColumn> orderByColumns()

Returns:

the order by columns comprising this order by clause

builder

static OrderBy.Builder builder()

Creates a OrderBy.Builder instance.

Returns:

a OrderBy.Builder instance

ascending

static OrderBy ascending(Column<?>... columns)

Creates an ascending OrderBy for the given columns.

// Single column ascending
OrderBy byName = OrderBy.ascending(Customer.NAME);

// Multiple columns ascending
OrderBy byNameAndEmail = OrderBy.ascending(Customer.LAST_NAME, Customer.FIRST_NAME);

// Usage in queries
List<Entity> customers = connection.select(
    Select.where(all(Customer.TYPE))
        .orderBy(OrderBy.ascending(Customer.LAST_NAME))
        .build());

// Usage in entity definition as default ordering
Customer.TYPE.define(
        Customer.LAST_NAME.define()
            .column(),
        Customer.FIRST_NAME.define()
            .column())
    .orderBy(OrderBy.ascending(Customer.LAST_NAME, Customer.FIRST_NAME))
    .build();

Parameters:

columns - the columns to order by ascending

Returns:

a new ascending OrderBy instance based on the given columns

descending

static OrderBy descending(Column<?>... columns)

Creates a descending OrderBy for the given columns.

// Single column descending
OrderBy byDateDesc = OrderBy.descending(Order.ORDER_DATE);

// Multiple columns descending
OrderBy byPriorityAndDate = OrderBy.descending(Task.PRIORITY, Task.DUE_DATE);

// Usage - most recent orders first
List<Entity> recentOrders = connection.select(
    Select.where(all(Order.TYPE))
        .orderBy(OrderBy.descending(Order.ORDER_DATE))
        .build());

// Combine with conditions
List<Entity> recentCustomerOrders = connection.select(
    Select.where(Order.CUSTOMER_FK.equalTo(customer))
        .orderBy(OrderBy.descending(Order.ORDER_DATE))
        .build());

Parameters:

columns - the columns to order by descending

Returns:

a new descending OrderBy instance based on the given columns