fix(sort): If there is no direction, setting active as empty #15169

src/lib/sort/sort.spec.ts

@@ -403,12 +403,20 @@ function testSingleColumnSortDirectionSequence(fixture: ComponentFixture<SimpleM
   component.matSort.direction = '';
 
   // Run through the sequence to confirm the order
-  let actualSequence = expectedSequence.map(() => {
+  let actualSequence = expectedSequence.map((currentSequence) => {
     component.sort(id);
 
+
     // Check that the sort event's active sort is consistent with the MatSort
-    expect(component.matSort.active).toBe(id);
-    expect(component.latestSortEvent.active).toBe(id);
+      if (currentSequence) {
+        expect(component.matSort.active).toBe(id);
+        expect(component.latestSortEvent.active).toBe(id);
+      } else {
+        // For empty sequence the mat sort active should be empty
+        expect(component.matSort.active).toBe('');
+        expect(component.latestSortEvent.active).toBe('');
+      }
+
 
     // Check that the sort event's direction is consistent with the MatSort
     expect(component.matSort.direction).toBe(component.latestSortEvent.direction);

src/lib/sort/sort.ts

@@ -137,7 +137,9 @@ export class MatSort extends _MatSortMixinBase
     } else {
       this.direction = this.getNextSortDirection(sortable);
     }
-
+    if (!this.direction) {
+      this.active = '';
+    }
     this.sortChange.emit({active: this.active, direction: this.direction});
   }