feat(components/sort): add multi-sort support

Adds multi-column sorting capability to MatSort, allowing to sort a table on multiple of its
columns at once by toggling matSortMultiple.

This feature adds a new sortState variable inside MatSort that should be used as a source of truth
when matSortMultiple is enabled.
Fixes #24102

Author: imerljak

src/components-examples/material/table/table-sorting/table-sorting-example.css

@@ -5,3 +5,7 @@ table {
 th.mat-sort-header-sorted {
   color: black;
 }
+
+.example-sorting-toggle-group {
+    margin: 8px;
+}

src/components-examples/material/table/table-sorting/table-sorting-example.html

@@ -1,36 +1,52 @@
+<div>
+  <mat-button-toggle-group #multiSorting="matButtonToggleGroup" class="example-sorting-toggle-group">
+    <mat-button-toggle [value]="false">Single column sorting</mat-button-toggle>
+    <mat-button-toggle [value]="true">Multi column sorting</mat-button-toggle>
+  </mat-button-toggle-group>
+</div>
+
 <table mat-table [dataSource]="dataSource" matSort (matSortChange)="announceSortChange($event)"
+       [matSortMultiple]="multiSorting.value"
        class="mat-elevation-z8">
 
   <!-- Position Column -->
-  <ng-container matColumnDef="position">
+  <ng-container matColumnDef="firstName">
     <th mat-header-cell *matHeaderCellDef mat-sort-header sortActionDescription="Sort by number">
-      No.
+      First name
     </th>
-    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.position}} </td>
+    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.firstName}} </td>
   </ng-container>
 
   <!-- Name Column -->
-  <ng-container matColumnDef="name">
+  <ng-container matColumnDef="lastName">
     <th mat-header-cell *matHeaderCellDef mat-sort-header sortActionDescription="Sort by name">
-      Name
+      Last name
     </th>
-    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.name}} </td>
+    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.lastName}} </td>
   </ng-container>
 
   <!-- Weight Column -->
-  <ng-container matColumnDef="weight">
+  <ng-container matColumnDef="position">
     <th mat-header-cell *matHeaderCellDef mat-sort-header sortActionDescription="Sort by weight">
-      Weight
+      Position
+    </th>
+    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.position}} </td>
+  </ng-container>
+
+  <!-- Symbol Column -->
+  <ng-container matColumnDef="office">
+    <th mat-header-cell *matHeaderCellDef mat-sort-header sortActionDescription="Sort by symbol">
+      Office
     </th>
-    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.weight}} </td>
+    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.office}} </td>
   </ng-container>
 
   <!-- Symbol Column -->
-  <ng-container matColumnDef="symbol">
+  <ng-container matColumnDef="salary">
     <th mat-header-cell *matHeaderCellDef mat-sort-header sortActionDescription="Sort by symbol">
-      Symbol
+      Salary
     </th>
-    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.symbol}} </td>
+    <td mat-cell *matCellDef="let element"> {{element.salary}} </td>
   </ng-container>
 
   <tr mat-header-row *matHeaderRowDef="displayedColumns"></tr>

src/components-examples/material/table/table-sorting/table-sorting-example.ts

@@ -2,25 +2,34 @@ import {LiveAnnouncer} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 import {AfterViewInit, Component, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
 import {MatSort, Sort, MatSortModule} from '@angular/material/sort';
 import {MatTableDataSource, MatTableModule} from '@angular/material/table';
+import {MatButtonToggle, MatButtonToggleGroup} from '@angular/material/button-toggle';
+import {MatButton} from '@angular/material/button';
 
-export interface PeriodicElement {
-  name: string;
-  position: number;
-  weight: number;
-  symbol: string;
+export interface EmployeeData {
+  firstName: string;
+  lastName: string;
+  position: string;
+  office: string;
+  salary: number;
 }
-const ELEMENT_DATA: PeriodicElement[] = [
-  {position: 1, name: 'Hydrogen', weight: 1.0079, symbol: 'H'},
-  {position: 2, name: 'Helium', weight: 4.0026, symbol: 'He'},
-  {position: 3, name: 'Lithium', weight: 6.941, symbol: 'Li'},
-  {position: 4, name: 'Beryllium', weight: 9.0122, symbol: 'Be'},
-  {position: 5, name: 'Boron', weight: 10.811, symbol: 'B'},
-  {position: 6, name: 'Carbon', weight: 12.0107, symbol: 'C'},
-  {position: 7, name: 'Nitrogen', weight: 14.0067, symbol: 'N'},
-  {position: 8, name: 'Oxygen', weight: 15.9994, symbol: 'O'},
-  {position: 9, name: 'Fluorine', weight: 18.9984, symbol: 'F'},
-  {position: 10, name: 'Neon', weight: 20.1797, symbol: 'Ne'},
-];
+
+const MULTI_SORT_DATA: EmployeeData[] = [
+  {firstName: "Garrett", lastName: "Winters", position: "Accountant", office: "Tokyo", salary: 170750},
+  {firstName: "Airi", lastName: "Satou", position: "Accountant", office: "Tokyo", salary: 162700},
+  {firstName: "Donna", lastName: "Snider", position: "Customer Support", office: "New York", salary: 112000},
+  {firstName: "Serge", lastName: "Baldwin", position: "Data Coordinator", office: "Singapore", salary: 138575},
+  {firstName: "Thor", lastName: "Walton", position: "Developer", office: "New York", salary: 98540},
+  {firstName: "Gavin", lastName: "Joyce", position: "Developer", office: "Edinburgh", salary: 92575},
+  {firstName: "Suki", lastName: "Burks", position: "Developer", office: "London", salary: 114500},
+  {firstName: "Jonas", lastName: "Alexander", position: "Developer", office: "San Francisco", salary: 86500},
+  {firstName: "Jackson", lastName: "Bradshaw", position: "Director", office: "New York", salary: 645750},
+  {firstName: "Brielle", lastName: "Williamson", position: "Integration Specialist", office: "New York", salary: 372000},
+  {firstName: "Michelle", lastName: "House", position: "Integration Specialist", office: "Sydney", salary: 95400},
+  {firstName: "Michael", lastName: "Bruce", position: "Javascript Developer", office: "Singapore", salary: 183000},
+  {firstName: "Ashton", lastName: "Cox", position: "Junior Technical Author", office: "San Francisco", salary: 86000},
+  {firstName: "Michael", lastName: "Silva", position: "Marketing Designer", office: "London", salary: 198500},
+  {firstName: "Timothy", lastName: "Mooney", position: "Office Manager", office: "London", salary: 136200},
+]
 /**
  * @title Table with sorting
  */
@@ -29,11 +38,11 @@ const ELEMENT_DATA: PeriodicElement[] = [
   styleUrls: ['table-sorting-example.css'],
   templateUrl: 'table-sorting-example.html',
   standalone: true,
-  imports: [MatTableModule, MatSortModule],
+  imports: [MatTableModule, MatSortModule, MatButtonToggle, MatButtonToggleGroup, MatButton],
 })
 export class TableSortingExample implements AfterViewInit {
-  displayedColumns: string[] = ['position', 'name', 'weight', 'symbol'];
-  dataSource = new MatTableDataSource(ELEMENT_DATA);
+  displayedColumns: string[] = ['firstName', 'lastName', 'position', 'office', 'salary'];
+  dataSource = new MatTableDataSource(MULTI_SORT_DATA);
 
   constructor(private _liveAnnouncer: LiveAnnouncer) {}
 

src/material/sort/sort-header.ts

@@ -294,9 +294,10 @@ export class MatSortHeader implements MatSortable, OnDestroy, OnInit, AfterViewI
 
   /** Whether this MatSortHeader is currently sorted in either ascending or descending order. */
   _isSorted() {
+    const currentSortDirection = this._sort.getCurrentSortDirection(this.id);
     return (
-      this._sort.active == this.id &&
-      (this._sort.direction === 'asc' || this._sort.direction === 'desc')
+      this._sort.isActive(this.id) &&
+      (currentSortDirection === 'asc' || currentSortDirection === 'desc')
     );
   }
 
@@ -322,7 +323,9 @@ export class MatSortHeader implements MatSortable, OnDestroy, OnInit, AfterViewI
    * only be changed once the arrow displays again (hint or activation).
    */
   _updateArrowDirection() {
-    this._arrowDirection = this._isSorted() ? this._sort.direction : this.start || this._sort.start;
+    this._arrowDirection = this._isSorted()
+      ? this._sort.getCurrentSortDirection(this.id)
+      : this.start || this._sort.start;
   }
 
   _isDisabled() {
@@ -340,7 +343,7 @@ export class MatSortHeader implements MatSortable, OnDestroy, OnInit, AfterViewI
       return 'none';
     }
 
-    return this._sort.direction == 'asc' ? 'ascending' : 'descending';
+    return this._sort.getCurrentSortDirection(this.id) == 'asc' ? 'ascending' : 'descending';
   }
 
   /** Whether the arrow inside the sort header should be rendered. */

src/material/sort/sort.spec.ts

@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ describe('MatSort', () => {
       fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SimpleMatSortApp);
       component = fixture.componentInstance;
       fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      component.matSort.matSortMultiple = false;
+      component.matSort.sortState.clear();
     });
 
     it('should have the sort headers register and deregister themselves', () => {
@@ -445,6 +448,24 @@ describe('MatSort', () => {
       expect(descriptionElement?.textContent).toBe('Sort 2nd column');
     });
 
+    it('should be able to store sorting for multiple columns when using multiSort', () => {
+      component.matSort.matSortMultiple = true;
+
+      component.start = 'asc';
+      testSingleColumnSortDirectionSequence(fixture, ['asc', 'desc', ''], 'defaultA');
+      testSingleColumnSortDirectionSequence(fixture, ['asc', 'desc', ''], 'defaultB');
+
+      expect(component.matSort.sortState.size).toBe(2);
+
+      const defaultAState = component.matSort.sortState.get('defaultA');
+      expect(defaultAState).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(defaultAState?.direction).toBe(component.start);
+
+      const defaultBState = component.matSort.sortState.get('defaultB');
+      expect(defaultBState).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(defaultBState?.direction).toBe(component.start);
+    });
+
     it('should render arrows after sort header by default', () => {
       const matSortWithArrowPositionFixture = TestBed.createComponent(MatSortWithArrowPosition);
 

src/material/sort/sort.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {
+  booleanAttribute,
   Directive,
   EventEmitter,
   Inject,
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import {
   OnInit,
   Optional,
   Output,
-  booleanAttribute,
+  SimpleChanges,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {HasInitialized, mixinInitialized} from '@angular/material/core';
 import {Subject} from 'rxjs';
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ import {
   getSortHeaderMissingIdError,
   getSortInvalidDirectionError,
 } from './sort-errors';
+import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '@angular/cdk/coercion';
 
 /** Position of the arrow that displays when sorted. */
 export type SortHeaderArrowPosition = 'before' | 'after';
@@ -82,6 +84,9 @@ export class MatSort extends _MatSortBase implements HasInitialized, OnChanges,
   /** Collection of all registered sortables that this directive manages. */
   sortables = new Map<string, MatSortable>();
 
+  /** Map holding the sort state for each column */
+  sortState = new Map<string, Sort>;
+
   /** Used to notify any child components listening to state changes. */
   readonly _stateChanges = new Subject<void>();
 
@@ -112,6 +117,17 @@ export class MatSort extends _MatSortBase implements HasInitialized, OnChanges,
   }
   private _direction: SortDirection = '';
 
+  /** Whether to enable the multi-sorting feature  */
+  @Input('matSortMultiple')
+  get matSortMultiple(): boolean {
+    return this._sortMultiple;
+  }
+
+  set matSortMultiple(value: any) {
+    this._sortMultiple = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
+  }
+  private _sortMultiple = false;
+
   /**
    * Whether to disable the user from clearing the sort by finishing the sort direction cycle.
    * May be overridden by the MatSortable's disable clear input.
@@ -162,14 +178,53 @@ export class MatSort extends _MatSortBase implements HasInitialized, OnChanges,
 
   /** Sets the active sort id and determines the new sort direction. */
   sort(sortable: MatSortable): void {
+    let sortableDirection;
+    if (!this.isActive(sortable.id)) {
+      sortableDirection = sortable.start ?? this.start;
+    } else {
+      sortableDirection = this.getNextSortDirection(sortable);
+    }
+
+    // avoid keeping multiple sorts if not required.
+    if (!this._sortMultiple) {
+      this.sortState.clear();
+    }
+
+    // Update active and direction to keep backwards compatibility
     if (this.active != sortable.id) {
       this.active = sortable.id;
-      this.direction = sortable.start ? sortable.start : this.start;
+    }
+    this.direction = sortableDirection;
+
+    const currentSort: Sort = {
+      active: sortable.id,
+      direction: sortableDirection,
+    };
+
+    // When unsorted, remove from state
+    if (sortableDirection !== '') {
+      this.sortState.set(sortable.id, currentSort);
     } else {
-      this.direction = this.getNextSortDirection(sortable);
+      this.sortState.delete(sortable.id);
     }
 
-    this.sortChange.emit({active: this.active, direction: this.direction});
+    this.sortChange.emit(currentSort);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Checks whether the provided column is currently active (has been sorted)
+   */
+  isActive(id: string): boolean {
+    return this.sortState.has(id);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the current SortDirection of the supplied column id, defaults to unsorted if no state is found.
+   */
+  getCurrentSortDirection(id: string): SortDirection {
+    return this.sortState.get(id)?.direction
+      ?? this.sortables.get(id)?.start
+      ?? this.start;
   }
 
   /** Returns the next sort direction of the active sortable, checking for potential overrides. */
@@ -178,13 +233,14 @@ export class MatSort extends _MatSortBase implements HasInitialized, OnChanges,
       return '';
     }
 
+    const currentSortableDirection = this.getCurrentSortDirection(sortable.id);
     // Get the sort direction cycle with the potential sortable overrides.
     const disableClear =
       sortable?.disableClear ?? this.disableClear ?? !!this._defaultOptions?.disableClear;
     let sortDirectionCycle = getSortDirectionCycle(sortable.start || this.start, disableClear);
 
     // Get and return the next direction in the cycle
-    let nextDirectionIndex = sortDirectionCycle.indexOf(this.direction) + 1;
+    let nextDirectionIndex = sortDirectionCycle.indexOf(currentSortableDirection) + 1;
     if (nextDirectionIndex >= sortDirectionCycle.length) {
       nextDirectionIndex = 0;
     }
@@ -195,7 +251,24 @@ export class MatSort extends _MatSortBase implements HasInitialized, OnChanges,
     this._markInitialized();
   }
 
-  ngOnChanges() {
+  ngOnChanges(changes: SimpleChanges) {
+    /* Update sortState with updated active and direction values, otherwise sorting won't work */
+    if (changes['active'] || changes['direction']) {
+      const currentActive = changes['active']?.currentValue ?? this.active;
+      const currentDirection = changes['direction']?.currentValue ?? this.direction ?? this.start;
+
+
+      // Handle sort deactivation
+      if ((!currentActive || currentActive === '') && changes['active']?.previousValue) {
+        this.sortState.delete(changes['active'].previousValue);
+      } else {
+        this.sortState.set(currentActive, {
+          active: currentActive,
+          direction: currentDirection,
+        } as Sort);
+      }
+    }
+
     this._stateChanges.next();
   }