---
title: "Container sorting puzzles: API"
package: "@phaser-ae/container-sort"
tier: Pro
version: 3.0.0-3
released: 2026-10-14
updated: 2026-10-20
description: "The rules of tube-sorting colour puzzles, pouring the top colour between tubes until each holds one, with seeded deals proven solvable, hint solvers and undo."
url: https://phaser.io/packs/container-sort/api
site: Phaser - https://phaser.io
---

# Container sorting puzzles: API

`@phaser-ae/container-sort` — Pour the top colour between capacity-limited tubes until each holds one colour, with proven seeded deals, hints and undo, as in Water Sort and Ball Sort.

## The pack

### `containerSort`

```ts
function containerSort(): Pack<{ containerSort: typeof kit }>
```

Install pure rules; no renderer, DOM or simulation hook is required.

## Helpers

### `createContainerSort`

```ts
function createContainerSort(config: SortConfig, certificate?: SortAction[]): ContainerSort
```

Create a sorting puzzle. Throws on 1 or more than 24 containers, a capacity outside 1 to 32 (or not one per container), an overfull container, an empty colour key, a bad `maxMoves` or `transfer`, or a `certificate` that does not replay to a sorted position.

### `generateContainerSort`

```ts
function generateContainerSort(options: SortGenerationOptions = {}): SortGeneration
```

Deal a seeded puzzle with a proven solution. By default (`fullStart`) it shuffles every colour into full containers plus empty spares and keeps the first of `attempts` candidates that `solveGuided` solves and that meets `minFragmentation` (else the most fragmented one solved). Throws when no candidate is solved within `searchBudget`, and on out-of-range options.

## Classes

### `ContainerSort`

```ts
class ContainerSort
```

Capacity-limited run transfers, with undo and bounded hints.

- `constructor(config: SortConfig, private certificate?: SortAction[])`
- `get state(): SortState` — A copy of the current position; changing it does not affect the puzzle.
- `capacity(index: number): number` — Capacity of container `index`; 0 when there is no such container.
- `get solved(): boolean` — Whether the position is sorted: every non-empty container holds one colour and is full, or, with `requireFull: false`, holds one colour with at most one part-filled container per colour.
- `get lost(): boolean` — Whether the puzzle is unsolved and the move limit is reached or no legal move is left.
- `legalActions(): SortAction[]` — Every legal move from the current position.
- `preview(a: SortAction): ActionResult<SortEvent>` — The outcome of move `a` without playing it; changes nothing.
- `apply(a: SortAction): ActionResult<SortEvent>` — Play move `a`. An illegal move changes nothing and returns `valid: false` with a reason: `invalid-container`, `move-limit`, `empty-source`, `full-destination` or `different-color`.
- `solve(maxStates = 20000): SearchResult<SortAction>` — Exact breadth-first search from the current position, visiting at most `maxStates` positions (default 20000); changes nothing.
- `solveGuided(maxStates=20000):SearchResult<SortAction>` — Bounded depth-first continuation search with equivalent empty tubes collapsed. No optimality claim.
- `solveBest(maxStates=20000):SearchResult<SortAction>` — Revalidate the construction route from the live position before returning it.
- `undo(): boolean` — Take back the last move; false when there is none.
- `redo(): boolean` — Replay the move last taken back; false when there is none.
- `reset(): void` — Return to the dealt position and clear the undo and redo history.

## Types

### `ContainerSortApi`

```ts
type ContainerSortApi = typeof kit
```

Public headless container sorting puzzles helpers.

### `SortAction`

```ts
interface SortAction
```

A move: pour from one container into another.

- `from: number` — Index of the container poured from.
- `to: number` — Index of the container poured into; must differ from `from`.

### `SortConfig`

```ts
interface SortConfig
```

Contents are bottom-first. Capacity may differ between containers.

- `containers: string[][]` — The colour keys in each container, bottom first: 2 to 24 containers, none holding more than its capacity, every key a non-empty string.
- `capacity: number | number[]` — Cells in every container (one number), or one capacity per container; each 1 to 32.
- `requireFull?: boolean` — True (the default): sorted means every non-empty container is full of one colour. False: containers may be part full, but a colour may leave only one of its containers part full, so it is gathered as tightly as the containers allow (three reds in tubes of four sit in one tube, five fill one and part of another).
- `maxMoves?: number` — Most moves allowed, at least 1; the puzzle is lost when it is reached unsolved. Default none.
- `transfer?: 'run'|'single'` — `run` pours the whole matching top run that fits; `single` moves one top cell. Default `run`.

### `SortEvent`

```ts
interface SortEvent
```

What a move did.

- `type: 'transferred'` — The kind of event; always `transferred`.
- `from: number` — Index of the container poured from.
- `to: number` — Index of the container poured into.
- `color: string` — The colour key moved.
- `count: number` — How many cells moved.

### `SortGeneration`

```ts
interface SortGeneration
```

A generated deal: the puzzle, a winning solution and how mixed it is.

- `config: SortConfig` — The puzzle, ready for `createContainerSort`.
- `solution: SortAction[]` — A replay-checked winning sequence of moves; pass it to `createContainerSort` so `solveBest` can use it.
- `scrambled: number` — Reverse-scramble moves used (`fullStart: false`); 0 for a full-start deal.
- `seed: number` — The seed asked for.
- `metrics: { /** Runs of one colour, counted over every container. */ runs: number; /** Containers holding more than one colour. */ mixed: number; /** \`runs\` minus the number of colours: 0 when sorted. */ fragmentation: number; /** Fewest moves any solution needs, from fragmentation: a move merges at most one pair of runs. */ lowerBound: number; /** Whether \`fragmentation\` reached \`minFragmentation\`. */ targetMet: boolean; }` — How mixed the deal is; none of it is a shortest-solution claim.

### `SortGenerationOptions`

```ts
interface SortGenerationOptions
```

What `generateContainerSort` takes; every field may be left out.

- `colors?: string[]` — The distinct colour keys to deal, at least 2. Default 3, 5, 7 or 9 numbered keys by difficulty.
- `capacity?: number` — Cells in every container, 2 to 12. Default 4 (5 on very-hard).
- `empty?: number` — Spare empty containers, 1 to 6. Default 2.
- `steps?: number` — Reverse-scramble moves, 1 to 200; used only when `fullStart` is false. Default 24, 48, 88 or 120 by difficulty.
- `seed?: number` — Unsigned 32-bit seed; the same seed and options give the same deal. Default 1.
- `transfer?: 'run'|'single'` — Transfer rule the deal is proved under. Default `run`.
- `difficulty?: 'easy'|'medium'|'hard'|'very-hard'` — Tier that sets the defaults for colours, capacity, steps and `minFragmentation`. Default `medium`.
- `minFragmentation?: number` — Fragmentation (colour runs minus colours) to aim for, 0 to 200; attempts continue until it is met, keeping the best. Default 3, 8, 14 or 20 by difficulty.
- `attempts?: number` — Candidate deals to try, 1 to 64. Default 12.
- `fullStart?: boolean` — Deal full mixed containers plus spares and prove them solvable (default true); false builds by reverse scrambling, which can leave containers part filled.
- `searchBudget?: number` — Positions the solver may visit per candidate when proving it, 1 to 1,000,000. Default 10,000.

### `SortState`

```ts
interface SortState
```

A position: what each container holds and how many moves have been played.

- `containers: string[][]` — The colour keys in each container, bottom first.
- `moves: number` — Moves played from the dealt position.

---

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