Is there a difference between "arrange" and "sort" in OS X 10.11.5?

LGGeiger wrote:

In OS X 10.11.5 Finder, the Option key changes the View menu item "Arrange By" to "Sort By". But, the choices in the sub menu item do not change. Is there a difference in how it arranges Finder results?

Thanks

http://www.macworld.com/article/3042014/macs/how-to-arrange-and-sort-files-in-os -x-el-capitan-s-finder.html

To my knowledge, no.

Barry

Arrange groups files based on the chosen criteria. For example, if you arrange by Kind, it will show your files grouped together in separate sections.

The files within those sections can be sorted independently of the Grouping.

Sorting just lists them top to bottom based on your sort criteria.

Put your Documents folder into List View and set the Arrangement to Kind. You'll see groupings for Documents, Folders, Spreadsheets, PDF Documents, etc (depending on what is in your folder). Hold down the Option key and choose a Sort criteria from the same button. You'll see the files within the groups re-order to match the sorting criteria.

To just Sort the files, you must set Arrangement to None.

In fact there is a difference which can come in useful. I've learned something.

It all depends on how someone chooses to interpret your question.

You asked if there is a difference in 10.11.5. That can be interpreted as,

1) Has Arrange and Sort changed in 10.11.5 from what it has been since Mavericks (I think).

2) What is the difference between Arrange and Sort (introduced several OS's ago).

A better title for the post would have been, "What's the difference between Arrange and Sort?"

That makes it clear what you meant and people won't wonder if you are experiencing a different behavior in the specific version, 10.11.5, than you have seen in previous versions that implemented Arrange and Sort.