How do I sort a table column by default when the page loads?

Add the data-sort-onload='yes' attribute to the th element of the column you want sorted initially. This triggers sorting immediately after stupidtable() is called, as shown in the README.

Stupid Table Plugin vs DataTables for simple sorting?

Stupid Table is better for minimal, jQuery-based projects needing only sorting with a tiny footprint, while DataTables offers more features like search and pagination but is much heavier. Choose based on whether you need extra functionalities.

How to sort dates in Stupid jQuery Table?

Create a custom data type by defining a sorting function in the plugin configuration that parses date strings or timestamps. The README's alphanum example can be adapted for dates by comparing Date objects or numeric values.

Can I update table rows dynamically and still sort correctly?

Yes, but you must use the updateSortVal() method to update the cache for changed cells, or call stupidtable_build() if will_manually_build_table is enabled. Otherwise, sorting will fail after DOM modifications.

Is Stupid Table Plugin accessible for screen readers?

The plugin does not add built-in ARIA attributes or keyboard navigation, so developers must manually implement accessibility features like role='button' and tabindex to ensure compliance with standards.

How does multi-column sorting handle ties?

Use the data-sort-multicolumn attribute on th elements with comma-separated identifiers (indices or IDs) to define secondary sort columns. When primary values match, these columns are used to break ties, as detailed in the multicolumn-sort example.

Stupid Table Sort — jQuery Table Sorting Plugin

What is Stupid Table Sort?

Stupid jQuery Table Sort is a lightweight jQuery plugin that adds sorting functionality to HTML tables with minimal setup. It solves the problem of implementing client-side table sorting without heavy dependencies or complex configuration, offering essential features like multi-column sorting, custom data types, and programmatic control.

Target Audience

Frontend developers and web designers who need to add simple, performant sorting to static or dynamically generated HTML tables using jQuery.

Value Proposition

Developers choose this plugin for its extreme simplicity, small footprint, and ease of integration—it requires just one line of code to activate basic sorting while providing hooks for customization when needed.

A stupidly small and simple jQuery table sorter plugin

Use Cases

Best For

Adding sorting to simple data tables in jQuery-based projects
Projects where minimizing JavaScript dependencies is a priority
Tables with mixed data types (numbers, strings, dates) requiring custom sort logic
Situations where table data updates dynamically and sort values need programmatic refreshing
Implementing multi-column sorting for better data organization
Quick prototyping or lightweight applications needing basic table interactivity

Not Ideal For

Modern applications built with frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular that avoid jQuery
Projects requiring server-side sorting or handling of very large datasets to offload client processing
Tables needing integrated features such as filtering, pagination, or advanced accessibility out-of-the-box
Accessibility-critical applications where built-in keyboard navigation and ARIA support are mandatory

Pros & Cons

Pros

Minimal Footprint

With only a dependency on jQuery 1.7+, the plugin is extremely lightweight, activating sorting with just one line of code ($('table').stupidtable()), making it ideal for performance-conscious projects.

Flexible Sorting Logic

It supports custom sorting functions via plugin configuration, allowing developers to handle complex data types like dates or alphanumeric strings, as shown in the README's alphanum example.

Hidden Value Sorting

The data-sort-value attribute enables sorting by computer-friendly values while displaying human-friendly text, useful for timestamps or formatted numbers without altering display content.

Performance Control

Settings like will_manually_build_table and should_redraw provide fine-grained control over table redraws, optimizing for static or large tables by reducing DOM reads.

Cons

jQuery Dependency

As a jQuery plugin, it's incompatible with modern JavaScript frameworks that avoid jQuery, limiting its use in contemporary web development stacks.

Manual HTML Configuration

Sorting requires adding data-sort attributes to table headers, which can be cumbersome and error-prone for dynamically generated or complex tables, increasing setup time.

Limited Built-in Features

Beyond basic sorting, it lacks common table enhancements like filtering, pagination, or advanced styling, necessitating additional plugins or custom code for full functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stupid Table Sort?

Target Audience

Frontend developers and web designers who need to add simple, performant sorting to static or dynamically generated HTML tables using jQuery.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Adding sorting to simple data tables in jQuery-based projects
Projects where minimizing JavaScript dependencies is a priority
Tables with mixed data types (numbers, strings, dates) requiring custom sort logic
Situations where table data updates dynamically and sort values need programmatic refreshing
Implementing multi-column sorting for better data organization
Quick prototyping or lightweight applications needing basic table interactivity

Not Ideal For

Modern applications built with frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular that avoid jQuery
Projects requiring server-side sorting or handling of very large datasets to offload client processing
Tables needing integrated features such as filtering, pagination, or advanced accessibility out-of-the-box
Accessibility-critical applications where built-in keyboard navigation and ARIA support are mandatory

Pros & Cons

Pros

Minimal Footprint

Flexible Sorting Logic

It supports custom sorting functions via plugin configuration, allowing developers to handle complex data types like dates or alphanumeric strings, as shown in the README's alphanum example.

Hidden Value Sorting

The data-sort-value attribute enables sorting by computer-friendly values while displaying human-friendly text, useful for timestamps or formatted numbers without altering display content.

Performance Control

Settings like will_manually_build_table and should_redraw provide fine-grained control over table redraws, optimizing for static or large tables by reducing DOM reads.

Cons

jQuery Dependency

As a jQuery plugin, it's incompatible with modern JavaScript frameworks that avoid jQuery, limiting its use in contemporary web development stacks.

Manual HTML Configuration

Sorting requires adding data-sort attributes to table headers, which can be cumbersome and error-prone for dynamically generated or complex tables, increasing setup time.

Limited Built-in Features

Beyond basic sorting, it lacks common table enhancements like filtering, pagination, or advanced styling, necessitating additional plugins or custom code for full functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stupid Table Sort

What is Stupid Table Sort?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Stupid Table Sort

What is Stupid Table Sort?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?