How to sort ListBox items programmatically in asp.net

asp.net listbox sort items

The following asp.net c# example code demonstrate us the technique to sort ListBox items programmatically at run time. We sorted the items on PageLoad event and not in page PostBack stage. We sort the ListBox items first time the page is load.

By default, ListBox server control has no built in functionality to sort its items. To sort ListBox items, first we initialize a Generic List with data type ListItem. Next, we loop through the ListBox items and populate the Generic List with ListBox items. After all we sort the generic list items by its OrderBy() method. In this tutorial, we sorted ListBox items based on ListItem Text property value.

At last we clear the ListBox and repopulate it with Generic List items. Finally, the browser render ListBox with sorted items.

listbox-sort-items.aspx


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true"%>    
      
<!DOCTYPE html>
        
<script runat="server">  
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)  
    {   
        if(!Page.IsPostBack)
        {
            List<ListItem> list = new List<ListItem>();

            foreach (ListItem li in ListBox1.Items)
            {
                list.Add(li);
            }

            List<ListItem> sorted = list.OrderBy(x => x.Text).ToList();

            ListBox1.Items.Clear();
            foreach (ListItem li in sorted)
            {
                ListBox1.Items.Add(li);
            }
        }
    }
    protected void ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Label1.Text = "you selected....<br />";
        Label1.Text += "item: " + ListBox1.SelectedItem.Text;
        Label1.Text += "<br />value: " + ListBox1.SelectedItem.Value;
    }
</script>        
        
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">        
<head id="Head1" runat="server">        
    <title>asp.net listbox sort items</title>  
</head>        
<body>        
    <form id="form1" runat="server">        
    <div>        
        <h2 style="color:MidnightBlue; font-style:italic;">        
            asp.net example - listbox sort items
        </h2>        
        <hr width="550" align="left" color="Gainsboro" />        
        <asp:Label       
            ID="Label1"       
            runat="server"      
            Text="select an item from ListBox."
            Font-Size="X-Large"
            Width="350"
            >      
        </asp:Label>      
        <br /><br />  
        <asp:ListBox  
            ID="ListBox1"  
            runat="server"  
            AutoPostBack="true"  
            Width="350"  
            Font-Size="X-Large"
            SelectionMode="Single"
            Height="200"  
            OnSelectedIndexChanged="ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged"
            >  
            <asp:ListItem Text="Green Broadbill" Value="1"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Common Sunbird-asity" Value="2"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="African Broadbill" Value="3"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Thrush-like Schiffornis" Value="4"></asp:ListItem>
            <asp:ListItem Text="Red-bellied Pitta" Value="5"></asp:ListItem>
        </asp:ListBox>  
    </div>        
    </form>        
</body>        
</html>

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