lastfirst

Lastfirst is a term often used in programming and data management to refer to the practice of sorting or ordering elements based on their last name first, and then their first name. This is a common convention for alphabetical organization of lists of people, especially in formal settings such as directories, indexes, or bibliographies. For example, a list of individuals might be presented as "Smith, John" rather than the more common "John Smith."

The "lastfirst" format is particularly useful when creating sorted lists where the primary sorting key is the surname, which is often the most significant identifier for distinguishing individuals. This method ensures that all individuals with the same last name are grouped together, making it easier to locate a specific person or to browse through a group of related individuals.

In database systems, this ordering can be implemented using SQL queries. For instance, a query might select records from a table of individuals and order them by the last name column followed by the first name column. This allows for flexible data presentation depending on the user's needs. The "lastfirst" convention is widely adopted in various professional and academic contexts due to its clarity and efficiency in organizing names.