---
title: sortDescriptors
framework: coredata
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: coredata/nsfetchrequest/sortdescriptors
---

# sortDescriptors

The sort descriptors of the fetch request.

## Declaration

```swift
var sortDescriptors: [NSSortDescriptor]? { get set }
```

## Discussion

Discussion The sort descriptors specify how the objects returned when the NSFetchRequest is issued should be ordered—for example, by last name and then by first name. The sort descriptors are applied in the order in which they appear in the sortDescriptors array (serially in lowest-array-index-first order). A value of nil is treated as no sort descriptors.