# sorted() Returns the elements of the sequence, sorted. ``` func sorted() -> [Self.Element] ``` ## Return Value A sorted array of the sequence’s elements. ## Discussion You can sort any sequence of elements that conform to the `Comparable` protocol by calling this method. Elements are sorted in ascending order. Here’s an example of sorting a list of students’ names. Strings in Swift conform to the `Comparable` protocol, so the names are sorted in ascending order according to the less-than operator (`<`). ``` let students: Set = ["Kofi", "Abena", "Peter", "Kweku", "Akosua"] let sortedStudents = students.sorted() print(sortedStudents) // Prints "["Abena", "Akosua", "Kofi", "Kweku", "Peter"]" ``` To sort the elements of your sequence in descending order, pass the greater-than operator (`>`) to the `sorted(by:)` method. ``` let descendingStudents = students.sorted(by: >) print(descendingStudents) // Prints "["Peter", "Kweku", "Kofi", "Akosua", "Abena"]" ``` The sorting algorithm is guaranteed to be stable. A stable sort preserves the relative order of elements that compare as equal. > Complexity: O(*n* log *n*), where *n* is the length of the sequence. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)