Linq to Sql - Sort record on multiple columns in ascending or descending order

In SQL Server it's easy and we are familiar to sort orders on different columns but when it comes to Linq to SQL or Lamda expression we stuck how to sort the records, it is because we are experienced much. So let's discuss some daily use ordering of records with examples.

1. Suppose we have an Employee table and want to sort on columns say "EmployeeName" in ascending order then

  MyDataContext db = new MyDataContext();
  List<Employee> employees = (from emp in db.Employees
       orderby emp.EmployeeName
       select emp).ToList<Employee>();
  //  OR
  List<Employee> employees = db.Employees
         .OrderBy(x => x.EmployeeName)ToList<Employee>();

2. Suppose we want to sort on columns say "JoiningDate " in descending order then

  List<Employee> employees = (from emp in db.Employees
       orderby emp.JoiningDate descending
       select emp).ToList<Employee>();
  //  OR
  List<Employee> employees = db.Employees
         .OrderByDescending(x => x.JoiningDate).ToList<Employee>();

3. Suppose we want to sort on different columns say "EmployeeName" and "City" in ascending order then

  List<Employee> employees = (from emp in db.Employees
       orderby emp.EmployeeName, emp.City
       select emp).ToList<Employee>();
  //  OR
  List<Employee> employees = db.Employees
         .OrderBy(x => x.EmployeeName)
         .ThenBy(x => x.City).ToList<Employee>();

4. Suppose we want to add one more ordering on column "JoiningDate" in descending order then

  List<Employee> employees = (from emp in db.Employees
       orderby emp.EmployeeName, emp.City, emp.JoiningDate descending
       select emp).ToList<Employee>();
  //  OR
  List<Employee> employees = db.Employees
         .OrderBy(x => x.EmployeeName)
         .ThenBy(x => x.City)
         .ThenByDescending(x => x.JoiningDate).ToList<Employee>();

We can also sort records by using new, see this

var employees = db.Employees.OrderBy( x => new { x.EmployeeName, x.City, x........});

we can use here as many columns as we many we want by separating with comma (,).

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