Signature

apply_filters( 'mam_gd_listings_sort_by_distance', bool $sort_by_distance, array|null $user_location );

Returns: bool. true sorts nearest-first, false sorts by title. The return value is cast to bool.

Purpose

Lets code choose the default order of a GeoDirectory listings response without changing the app setting. For example, sort nearest-first on one site even though the setting is off, or turn distance sorting off for a particular role.

The filter only decides the order. It does not add or remove the distance values on each row; those are added whenever the request carries a usable user location (see Mobile listing data shape).

When it runs

Once per listings response, in mam_geodirectory_content::get_data_for_app() (content-classes/local-app-geodirectory-v2-class.php), after every row has been built and after distance has been added to each row that has coordinates. It runs before Hook: mam_geodirectory_final_listings.

It does not affect the events-only (calendar) content type, which is always ordered by sort_date.

Default behavior

• The setting value is passed in unchanged.
• If the filter returns true but no row has a numeric distance (for example, the app sent no location), the list falls back to title order.
• In a distance sort, rows without a distance follow the rows that have one, ordered by title. Rows at the same distance are ordered by title.

Examples

Always sort nearest-first when the app sends a location

add_filter( 'mam_gd_listings_sort_by_distance', function ( $sort_by_distance, $user_location ) {
    return null !== $user_location ? true : $sort_by_distance;
}, 10, 2 );

Never sort by distance

add_filter( 'mam_gd_listings_sort_by_distance', '__return_false' );

Rows still carry distance, so on iOS 26.40.14+ users can still pick Distance (Nearest) from the sort sheet.

Gotchas

• Returning true is not enough on its own. The list is sorted by distance only when at least one row has a numeric distance.
• $user_location is null without a usable location. Out-of-range coordinates and 0, 0 are treated as no location.
• The setting is read per role. The incoming value comes from the App Settings cascade for the current user’s role, not from a plain WordPress option.

Verification

This article was last verified against:

• Plugin: mam-geodirectory 26.40.3
• Source: content-classes/local-app-geodirectory-v2-class.php (get_data_for_app(), resolve_request_user_location())

Re-verify whenever the sort block in get_data_for_app() changes, the filter’s arguments change, or the way the user location is read from the request changes.

Related articles

• Plugin: mam-geodirectory
• Content type: GeoDirectory list and map
• Mobile listing data shape
• Hook: mam_geodirectory_final_listings

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