Converts INT256/INT512/UINT256/UINT512 to a sortable BLOB for use in ORDER BY. Necessary because Determica's default BLOB ordering doesn't handle signed integers correctly. Use sort_key only inside ORDER BY or comparison-key workflows; it is not a human-readable number conversion, hash, or portable serialization.
Runs locally
-- Sort signed accounting deltas numerically
WITH pnl(label, delta) AS (
VALUES
('loss', '-2500000'::INT256),
('flat', '0'::INT256),
('profit', '1750000'::INT256)
)
SELECT label, delta::VARCHAR AS raw_delta
FROM pnl
ORDER BY sort_key(delta);
-- => [{"label":"loss","raw_delta":"-2500000"},{"label":"flat","raw_delta":"0"},{"label":"profit","raw_delta":"1750000"}]sort_key(INT256) # Builds a sortable key for signed INT256 values. The returned BLOB is for ordering, not display.
| Name | Type | Use |
|---|---|---|
value | INT256 INT256, INT512, UINT256, or UINT512 value to turn into an ordering key. | required positional |
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
sortable_key | BLOB |
Sortable binary key. Returns a BLOB whose byte ordering matches numeric ordering. It is not a display or hash format.
sort_key(INT512) # Builds a sortable key for signed INT512 values. The returned BLOB is for ordering, not display.
| Name | Type | Use |
|---|---|---|
value | INT512 INT256, INT512, UINT256, or UINT512 value to turn into an ordering key. | required positional |
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
sortable_key | BLOB |
Sortable binary key. Returns a BLOB whose byte ordering matches numeric ordering. It is not a display or hash format.
Runs locally
SELECT value::VARCHAR FROM (VALUES ('-2'::INT512), (1::INT512)) t(value) ORDER BY sort_key(value);sort_key(UINT256) # Builds a sortable key for unsigned UINT256 values. The returned BLOB is for ordering, not display.
| Name | Type | Use |
|---|---|---|
value | UINT256 INT256, INT512, UINT256, or UINT512 value to turn into an ordering key. | required positional |
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
sortable_key | BLOB |
Sortable binary key. Returns a BLOB whose byte ordering matches numeric ordering. It is not a display or hash format.
sort_key(UINT512) # Builds a sortable key for unsigned UINT512 values. The returned BLOB is for ordering, not display.
| Name | Type | Use |
|---|---|---|
value | UINT512 INT256, INT512, UINT256, or UINT512 value to turn into an ordering key. | required positional |
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
sortable_key | BLOB |
Sortable binary key. Returns a BLOB whose byte ordering matches numeric ordering. It is not a display or hash format.
Runs locally
SELECT value::VARCHAR FROM (VALUES (2::UINT512), (1::UINT512)) t(value) ORDER BY sort_key(value);Use sort_key inside ORDER BY when signed or wide EVM integers must sort numerically. The returned BLOB is an implementation detail for ordering.
Runs locally
WITH balances(raw_amount) AS (
VALUES (parse_units('2500', 6)), (parse_units('125', 6))
)
SELECT raw_amount
FROM balances
ORDER BY sort_key(raw_amount) DESC;Runs locally
-- Sort balances wider than native 128-bit integers
WITH balances(label, raw_balance) AS (
VALUES
('small', 100::UINT256),
('whale', '340282366920938463463374607431768211456'::UINT256),
('medium', 1000000::UINT256)
)
SELECT label, raw_balance::VARCHAR AS raw_balance
FROM balances
ORDER BY sort_key(raw_balance) DESC;
-- => [{"label":"whale","raw_balance":"340282366920938463463374607431768211456"},{"label":"medium","raw_balance":"1000000"},{"label":"small","raw_balance":"100"}]