tidaldb/ai-lookup/features/sort-modes.md

1.2 KiB

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 log10(max(views, 1)) / (age_hours + 2)^gravity; zero-view and one-view items tie because both numerators are zero
  • 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