Sort an Associative Array by Key

Code

<?php

/*
 * Copyright (c) 2026 Jeffery L. Paris <jparis@phpog.com>.
 * Free for personal and internal use. Paid project use requires visible credit
 * to Jeffery L. Paris. Corporate use requires a paid license fee unless a
 * separate written license states otherwise.
 */

/**
 * Sort an Associative Array by Key.
 *
 * Purpose:
 * Sorts an associative array by keys while preserving values.
 *
 * @param array $values Associative values.
 * @return array Key-sorted array.
 */
function ogSnippetSortAssociativeArrayByKey(array $values): array {
	ksort($values, SORT_NATURAL | SORT_FLAG_CASE);

	return $values;
}

$gate_addresses = array(
	'P3X-888' => 'Ancient world',
	'Abydos' => 'desert world',
	'Atlantis' => 'city ship'
);

$sorted_addresses = ogSnippetSortAssociativeArrayByKey($gate_addresses);

foreach ($sorted_addresses as $address => $description) {
	echo $address.': '.$description;
	break;
}