arrays - Javascript : ask an explanation -

here's full code:

function longestword(sen) {     // use regex match function searches string   // pattern , returns array of strings finds   // in our case pattern define below returns words   // characters through z , 0 through 9, stripping away punctuation   // e.g. "hello$% ##all" becomes [hello, all]   var arr = sen.match(/[a-z0-9]+/gi);    // array sort function takes function parameter   // used compare each element in array   // next element in array   var sorted = arr.sort(function(a, b) {     return b.length - a.length;   });    // array contains words in original   // string in order longest shortest length   // return first element   return sorted[0];  }longestword("the $$$longest# word coderbyte");  

but need explain part :

var sorted = arr.sort(function(a, b) {     return b.length - a.length;   }); 

i understand how function , sort works, kinda mixed , brain crashed. , can give me simple alternative solve problem >> longest word, in using if-else , comparing ?

for sort() function can refer documentation

for simpler alternative see following code

function longestword(sen) {    let longest = "";    sen.match(/[a-z0-9]+/gi).foreach(function(word) {      if (word.length > longest.length)        longest = word;    })    return longest;  }  console.log(longestword("the $$$longest# word coderbyte"));