MakeKeyAndOrder

MakeKeyAndOrder is a utility or function used in data systems to create a composite key along with a corresponding sort order specification. It is commonly employed when multiple fields must jointly identify an entry and determine how results should be ordered in queries, indexes, or serialized representations.

The function typically takes two inputs: a sequence of key components (such as field names or values) and a sequence of order directives (such as ascending or descending) for each component. It returns an object or pair that includes the assembled key and an explicit ordering schema. This pairing allows downstream components—such as index builders, query planners, or serializers—to consistently apply both the key and its sort criteria.

Parameters and return values are usually structured but can vary by implementation. A typical signature might accept: a list of components, an accompanying list of directions (asc/desc), and optionally a type hint for each component. The return value often includes: a composite key (often a tuple or concatenated string) and an order specification that mirrors the input directions. Some implementations may normalize inputs, handle nulls, and provide error or warning behavior for mismatched lengths.

Common use cases include creating compound indexes in databases, forming keys in key-value stores, and defining sort behavior for multi-field queries. Related concepts include composite keys, index key construction, and order-by planning. See also: compound keys, index design, query optimization.