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Sort Data in Blazor TreeList

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Sort Data in Blazor TreeList

  • Jan 20, 2026
  • 10 minutes to read

The TreeList can sort data by multiple columns. The sort glyph indicates the current sort order (ascending or descending).

Run Demo

The sort algorithm is applicable to data types that implement the IComparable interface. If a column data type does not support this interface, implement a custom sort algorithm.

Sort Data in the UI

The following user operations are available:

  • Click a column header to sort data in ascending order and clear sort criteria for all other columns. Subsequent clicks reverse the sort order.
  • Hold Shift and click column headers to sort data by multiple columns.
  • Hold Ctrl and click a column header to clear sorting by this column.

Users can focus a column header and press Space, Shift+Space, or Ctrl+Space to change sort settings. Refer to the following topic for additional information on keyboard shortcuts: Keyboard Support in Blazor TreeList.

You can use the following properties to prohibit end-user data sorting operations:

DxTreeList.AllowSortSpecifies whether users can sort treelist data.DxTreeListDataColumn.AllowSortSpecifies whether users can sort data by the current column.

The following code snippet sorts data by the Task column and prevents users from clearing sort settings:

razor
@inject EmployeeTaskService EmployeeTaskService

<DxTreeList @ref="TreeList" Data="TreeListData" KeyFieldName="Id" ParentKeyFieldName="ParentId">
    <Columns>
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="Name" Caption="Task" SortIndex="0" AllowSort="false" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="EmployeeName" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="StartDate" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="DueDate" />
    </Columns>
</DxTreeList>

@code {
    ITreeList TreeList { get; set; }
    List<EmployeeTask> TreeListData { get; set; }

    protected override void OnInitialized() {
        TreeListData = EmployeeTaskService.GenerateData();
    }
}
csharp
public class EmployeeTask {
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int ParentId { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string EmployeeName { get; set; }
    public DateTime StartDate { get; set; }
    public DateTime DueDate { get; set; }
    public int Progress { get; set; }
    public EmployeeTask() { }
    public EmployeeTask(
        int id,
        int parentId,
        string name,
        string employeeName,
        DateTime startDate,
        DateTime dueDate,
        int progress
        )
    {
        Id = id;
        ParentId = parentId;
        Name = name;
        EmployeeName = employeeName;
        StartDate = startDate;
        DueDate = dueDate;
        Progress = progress;
    }
}
csharp
public class EmployeeTaskService {
    public List<EmployeeTask> GenerateData() {
        return new List<EmployeeTask>() {
            new EmployeeTask(1, 0, "Simplify & Clarify Product Messaging", "John Heart", new DateTime(2018, 4, 3), new DateTime(2018, 4, 14), 14),
            new EmployeeTask(2, 1, "Prepare Financial Reports", "Samantha Bright", new DateTime(2018, 4, 3), new DateTime(2018, 4, 7), 17),
            new EmployeeTask(3, 1, "Prepare Marketing Plan", "Arthur Miller", new DateTime(2018, 4, 7), new DateTime(2018, 4, 14), 11),
            new EmployeeTask(4, 0, "Create Action Plan to Improve Customer Engagement", "Robert Reagan", new DateTime(2017, 8, 8), new DateTime(2018, 4, 8), 23),
            new EmployeeTask(5, 4, "Update Personnel Files", "Greta Sims", new DateTime(2017, 8, 8), new DateTime(2017, 10, 18), 100),
            new EmployeeTask(6, 4, "Review Health Insurance Options", "Brett Wade", new DateTime(2017, 9, 27), new DateTime(2017, 11, 10), 37),
            new EmployeeTask(7, 4, "Choose Between PPO and HMO Health Plan", "Sandra Johnson", new DateTime(2017, 12, 13), new DateTime(2018, 3, 23), 17),
            new EmployeeTask(8, 4, "Update Google Adwords Strategy", "Ed Holmes", new DateTime(2017, 8, 23), new DateTime(2017, 12, 23), 45),
            new EmployeeTask(9, 4, "Create New Brochure Design", "Barb Banks", new DateTime(2018, 1, 3), new DateTime(2018, 3, 14), 17),
            new EmployeeTask(10, 4, "Obtain Price Quote for New Brochure", "Kevin Carter", new DateTime(2018, 2, 1), new DateTime(2018, 3, 15), 18),
            new EmployeeTask(11, 4, "Brochure Design Review", "Cindy Stanwick", new DateTime(2017, 8, 22), new DateTime(2017, 10, 28), 4),
            new EmployeeTask(12, 4, "Review Website Redesign Strategy", "Sammy Hill", new DateTime(2017, 9, 16), new DateTime(2018, 3, 6), 73),
            new EmployeeTask(13, 4, "Roll Out New Website", "Davey Jones", new DateTime(2017, 11, 7), new DateTime(2018, 2, 6), 9),
            new EmployeeTask(14, 4, "Update Sales/Marketing Strategy", "Victor Norris", new DateTime(2017, 12, 13), new DateTime(2018, 4, 2), 5),
            new EmployeeTask(15, 4, "Update Sales/Revenue Report", "Mary Stern", new DateTime(2017, 12, 25), new DateTime(2018, 4, 2), 4),
            new EmployeeTask(16, 4, "Direct vs Online Sales Comparison Report", "Robin Cosworth", new DateTime(2018, 1, 2), new DateTime(2018, 3, 20), 14),
            new EmployeeTask(17, 4, "Review Sales Report and Approve Modifications", "Kelly Rodriguez", new DateTime(2017, 9, 4), new DateTime(2017, 10, 30), 8),
            new EmployeeTask(18, 4, "Update R&D Strategy", "James Anderson", new DateTime(2017, 11, 13), new DateTime(2017, 12, 4), 12),
            new EmployeeTask(19, 4, "Discuss Updated R&D Strategy", "Antony Remmen", new DateTime(2017, 10, 29), new DateTime(2017, 12, 31), 14),
            new EmployeeTask(20, 4, "Update QA Strategy", "Olivia Peyton", new DateTime(2017, 10, 31), new DateTime(2017, 11, 2), 18),
            new EmployeeTask(21, 4, "Schedule Training Events", "Taylor Riley", new DateTime(2017, 11, 19), new DateTime(2018, 4, 7), 21),
            new EmployeeTask(22, 4, "Approve Hiring of John Jeffers", "Amelia Harper", new DateTime(2018, 1, 7), new DateTime(2018, 4, 8), 10),
            new EmployeeTask(23, 0, "Increase Average Subscription Price", "Wally Hobbs", new DateTime(2017, 8, 9), new DateTime(2017, 9, 13), 96),
            new EmployeeTask(24, 23, "Update Non-Compete Agreements", "Brad Jameson", new DateTime(2017, 8, 9), new DateTime(2017, 9, 3), 96),
            new EmployeeTask(25, 23, "Update Employee Records with New NDA", "Karen Goodson", new DateTime(2017, 8, 23), new DateTime(2018, 9, 10), 100)
        };
    }
}
csharp
// ...
builder.Services.AddSingleton<EmployeeTaskService>();

Sort Data in Code

Specify Initial Sort Settings

You can use the following properties to specify a data column’s initial sort settings:

SortOrderSpecifies the column’s sort order (ascending or descending).SortIndexSpecifies the column’s index among sorted columns. If the property is set to -1, TreeList data is not sorted by this column.

razor
<DxTreeList @ref="TreeList" Data="TreeListData" KeyFieldName="Id" ParentKeyFieldName="ParentId">
    <Columns>
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="Name" Caption="Task" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="EmployeeName" SortIndex="0"
                              SortOrder="TreeListColumnSortOrder.Descending" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="StartDate" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="DueDate" />
    </Columns>
</DxTreeList>

Sort Data at Runtime

You can sort TreeList data at runtime in the following ways:

  • Use a column’s SortIndex property to specify whether the column takes part in sorting and at which level.
    Note that you need to enclose your code between BeginUpdate and EndUpdate method calls to change values of TreeList component parameters outside the TreeList component markup. Otherwise, an exception occurs.

  • Call SortBy methods.

Clear Sorting at Runtime

You can clear data sorting in the following ways:

Sort Data by Value or Display Text

The TreeList sorts column data by values unless the column editor is a combo box with specified text and value field names. In the latter case, the TreeList sorts column data by display text strings.

Set a column’s SortMode property to Value or DisplayText to switch between sort modes.

razor
<DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="Country" SortMode="TreeListColumnSortMode.DisplayText">

Custom Sorting

The TreeList allows you to apply a custom sorting algorithm to column data. Follow the steps below to implement this functionality:

  1. Set a column’s SortMode property to Custom.
  2. Handle the CustomSort event to implement custom sorting logic. The event allows you to compare two rows and specify the comparison result. You can use Value1 and Value2 properties to compare row values in the processed column or call GetRow1Value(String) and GetRow2Value(String) methods to get row values in other columns.
  3. Set the Handled property to true to indicate that the current comparison operation is handled.

The following code snippet sorts the Name column by mass.

razor
@inject SpaceObjectDataProvider SpaceObjectDataProvider

<DxTreeList Data="TreeListData" ChildrenFieldName="Satellites" CustomSort="TreeList_CustomSort">
    <Columns>
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="Name" SortMode="TreeListColumnSortMode.Custom" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="TypeOfObject" Caption="Type" />
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="Mass10pow21kg" Caption="Mass, kg" DisplayFormat="N2">
            <HeaderCaptionTemplate>Mass, 10<sup>21</sup> &#215; kg</HeaderCaptionTemplate>
        </DxTreeListDataColumn>
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="MeanRadiusInKM" Caption="Radius, km" DisplayFormat="N2"/>
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="Volume10pow9KM3" DisplayFormat="N2">
            <HeaderCaptionTemplate>Volume, 10<sup>9</sup> &#215; km<sup>3</sup></HeaderCaptionTemplate>
        </DxTreeListDataColumn>
        <DxTreeListDataColumn FieldName="SurfaceGravity" DisplayFormat="N2">
            <HeaderCaptionTemplate>Gravity, m/s<sup>2</sup></HeaderCaptionTemplate>
        </DxTreeListDataColumn>
    </Columns>
</DxTreeList>

@code {
    object TreeListData { get; set; }

    protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync() {
        TreeListData = SpaceObjectDataProvider.GenerateData();
    }
    void TreeList_CustomSort(TreeListCustomSortEventArgs e) {
        if (e.FieldName == "Name") {
            var mass1 = (double)e.GetRow1Value("Mass10pow21kg");
            var mass2 = (double)e.GetRow2Value("Mass10pow21kg");
            e.Result = mass2.CompareTo(mass1);
            e.Handled = true;
        }
    }
}
csharp
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class SpaceObject {
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public double MeanRadiusInKM { get; set; }
    public double Volume10pow9KM3 { get; set; }
    public double Mass10pow21kg { get; set; }
    public double Density { get; set; }
    public double SurfaceGravity { get; set; }
    public string TypeOfObject { get; set; }
    public List<SpaceObject> Satellites { get; set; }
    public SpaceObject(
        string name,
        double meanRadiusInKM,
        double volume10pow9KM3,
        double mass10pow21kg,
        double density,
        double surfaceGravity,
        string typeOfObject,
        List<SpaceObject> satellites = null
    ) {
        Name = name;
        MeanRadiusInKM = meanRadiusInKM;
        Volume10pow9KM3 = volume10pow9KM3;
        Mass10pow21kg = mass10pow21kg;
        Density = density;
        SurfaceGravity = surfaceGravity;
        TypeOfObject = typeOfObject;
        Satellites = satellites ?? new List<SpaceObject>();
    }
}
csharp
public class SpaceObjectDataProvider {
    public List<SpaceObject> GenerateData() {
        return new List<SpaceObject>() {
            new SpaceObject("Sun", 696000, 1412000000, 1989100000, 1.409, 274.0, "Star", new List<SpaceObject>() {
                new SpaceObject("Mercury", 2439.7, 60.83, 330.2, 5.43, 3.7, "Planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Venus", 6051.8, 928.43, 4868.5, 5.24, 8.872, "Planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Earth", 6371.0, 1083.21, 5973.6, 5.515, 9.78033, "Planet", new List<SpaceObject> () {
                    new SpaceObject("Moon", 1737.1, 21.958, 73.5, 3.3464, 1.625, "Satellite")
                }),
                new SpaceObject("Mars", 3390.0, 163.18, 641.85, 3.94, 3.7, "Planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Jupiter", 69911, 1431280, 1898600, 1.33, 24.79, "Planet", new List<SpaceObject>() {
                    new SpaceObject("Ganymede", 2631.2, 76.30, 148.2, 1.936, 1.428, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Callisto", 2410.3, 58.65, 107.6, 1.83, 1.23603, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Io", 1821.5, 25.32, 89.3, 3.528, 1.797, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Europa", 1561, 15.93, 48, 3.01, 1.316, "Satellite"),
                }),
                new SpaceObject("Saturn", 58232, 827130, 568460, 0.70, 10.445, "Planet", new List<SpaceObject>() {
                    new SpaceObject("Titan", 2576, 71.52, 134.5, 1.88, 1.354, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Rhea", 764.4, 1.87, 2.3166, 1.23, 0.26, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Iapetus", 736, 1.55, 1.9739, 1.08, 0.223, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Dione", 561.6, 0.73, 1.096, 1.48, 0.232, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Tethys", 533, 0.624, 0.6173, 1.15, 0.145, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Enceladus", 252.1, 0.067, 0.108, 1.61, 0.111, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Mimas", 198.3, 0.033, 0.03749, 1.15, 0.06363, "Satellite")
                }),
                new SpaceObject("Uranus", 25362, 68340, 86832, 1.30, 8.87, "Planet", new List<SpaceObject>() {
                    new SpaceObject("Titania", 788.9, 2.06, 3.526, 1.72, 0.378, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Oberon", 761.4, 1.85, 3.014, 1.63, 0.347, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Umbriel", 584.7, 0.84, 1.2, 1.4, 0.234, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Ariel", 578.9, 0.81, 1.35, 1.67, 0.269, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Miranda", 235.8, 0.055, 0.0659, 1.20, 0.07910375, "Satellite"),
                }),
                new SpaceObject("Neptune", 24622, 62540, 102430, 1.76, 11.15, "Planet", new List<SpaceObject>() {
                    new SpaceObject("Triton", 1353.4, 10.38, 21.5, 2.061, 0.782, "Satellite"),
                    new SpaceObject("Proteus", 210, 0.038, 0.050, 1.3, 0.0666, "Satellite"),
                }),
                new SpaceObject("Eris", 1170, 7, 16.7, 2.25, 0.662, "Dwarf planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Pluto", 1153, 7.15, 13.105, 2.0, 0.61, "Dwarf planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Makemake", 710, 1.8, 3, 2.0, 0.4, "Dwarf planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Haumea", 575, 1.3, 4.006, 3, 0.44, "Dwarf planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Ceres", 475, 0.437, 0.95, 2.08, 0.27, "Dwarf planet"),
                new SpaceObject("Pallas", 266, 0.078, 0.211, 2.8, 0.2, "Asteroid"),
                new SpaceObject("Vesta", 264.6, 0.078, 0.262, 3.42, 0.251, "Asteroid")
            })
        };
    }
}
csharp
// ...
builder.Services.AddSingleton<SpaceObjectDataProvider>();

Limitations

  1. When the TreeList is bound to the GridDevExtremeDataSource or loads data on demand, sort operations cancel incomplete “select all” and “deselect all” processes.

  2. When data is sorted, the TreeList cannot guarantee a specific drop position after drag-and-drop operations and internally switches the DropTargetMode property to Component.

This section contains a comprehensive sorting-related API reference.

TreeList API memberTypeDescription
AllowSortPropertySpecifies whether users can sort treelist data.
ClearSort()MethodClears sorting.
GetSortedColumns()MethodGets the collection of sorted columns.
SortByMethodSorts data by column values.
CustomSortEventAllows you to implement custom logic used to sort data in the TreeList.
Column API memberTypeDescription
AllowSortPropertySpecifies whether users can sort data by the current column.
SortIndexPropertySpecifies the column’s index among sorted columns. If the property is set to -1, TreeList data is not sorted by this column.
SortModePropertySpecifies whether the TreeList sorts column data by values or uses custom sort logic.
SortOrderPropertySpecifies the column’s sort order (ascending or descending).
SortIndexChangedEventFires when the column’s sort index changes.
SortOrderChangedEventFires when the column’s sort order changes.