function parseSortDirective_(filterElement, backwards) {
    var match = /^sort:(.*)$/.exec(filterElement);
    if (!match)
      return null;
    return {method: match[1], backwards: backwards};
  }
/**
   * Parses a single "sort:" directive, and returns a dictionary containing
   * the sort function and direction.  Returns null on failure, including
   * the case when no such sort function exists.
   */
Parses a single "sort:" directive, and returns a dictionary containing
the sort function and direction.  Returns null on failure, including
the case when no such sort function exists.
Parses a single " sort : " directive and returns a dictionary containing the sort function and direction . Returns null on failure including the case when no such sort function exists .
function parseSortDirective_(filterElement, backwards) {
    var match = /^sort:(.*)$/.exec(filterElement);
    if (!match)
      return null;
    return {method: match[1], backwards: backwards};
  }
function parseSortDirective_ ( filterElement , backwards ) { var match = / ^sort:(.*)$ / . exec ( filterElement ) ; if ( ! match ) return null ; return { method : match [ 1 ] , backwards : backwards } ; }
Parses a single "sort:" directive, and returns a dictionary containing
 the sort function and direction.
Parses a single " sort : " directive and returns a dictionary containing the sort function and direction .