# Sort Modes

**Last Updated:** 2026-02-19
**Confidence:** High

## Summary

25+ native sort modes available on any surface. The application names a sort mode; the database executes it. No application-side sorting logic required.

**Key Facts:**
- Sort modes are built-in, not formulas the application implements
- Same sort mode works across different candidate sets (global, category, social graph)
- Windowed top sorts: hour, today, week, month, year, all-time
- Hot uses Reddit-style age decay: score / (age + 2)^gravity
- Trending is pure velocity (rate of change), distinct from Hot (cumulative with decay)
- Controversial maximizes product of positive and negative signals

**File Pointer:** `USE_CASES.md:635-663` (Appendix B)

## Categories

**Quality-based:** relevance, personalized, top_* (windowed), hidden_gems
**Time-based:** new, old, hot, trending, rising
**Engagement-based:** most_viewed, most_liked, most_commented, most_shared
**Format-based:** shortest, longest, alphabetical_asc/desc
**Special:** shuffle (quality-weighted random), live_viewer_count, date_saved, controversial

## Related Topics
- [Ranking Profiles](../services/ranking-profiles.md)
- [Query Language](./query-language.md)
