PHP: Sorting custom classes, using java-like Comparable? -

how can make own custom class sortable using sort() example?

i've been scanning web find method of making class comparable in java without luck. tried implementing __equals() without luck. i've tried __tostring(). class looks this:

class genre {     private $genre;     private $count;     ... } 

i want sort them count integer, in descending order... ($genre string)

you can create custom sort method , use http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.usort.php function call it.

example:

$collection = array(..); // array of genre objects  // either must make count public variable, or create // accessor function access function collectionsort($a, $b) {     if ($a->count == $b->count)     {         return 0;     }     return ($a->count < $b->count) ? -1 : 1; }  usort($collection, "collectionsort"); 

if you'd make more generic collection system try this

interface sortable {     public function getsortfield(); }  class genre implements sortable {     private $genre;     private $count;      public function getsortfield()     {         return $count;     } }  class collection {     private $collection = array();      public function additem($item)     {         $this->collection[] = $item;     }      public function getitems()     {         return $this->collection;     }      public function sort()     {         usort($this->collection, 'genericcollectionsort');     } }  function genericcollectionsort($a, $b) {     if ($a->getsortfield() == $b->getsortfield())     {         return 0;     }     return ($a->getsortfield() < $b->getsortfield()) ? -1 : 1; }  $collection = new collection(); $collection->additem(...); // add many genre objects want $collection->sort(); $sortedgenrearray = $collection->getitems();