Page Template dropdown ordering should be by title, not value

[leec87]

The ordering of items within the Page Template dropdown field is sorted by the value alphabetically, which often creates what appears to be an unordered display when viewing on the front end.

I this should be changed so the ordering of the dropdown options is based on the alphabetical order of the list items themselves.

[SirLouen]

Reproduction Report

Description

✅ This report validates that the issue can be reproduced.

Environment

• WordPress: 6.9-alpha-60093-src
• PHP: 8.2.29
• Server: nginx/1.29.1
• Database: mysqli (Server: 8.4.6 / Client: mysqlnd 8.2.29)
• Browser: Chrome 140.0.0.0
• OS: Windows 10/11
• Theme: Minimal Theme 1.0.0
• MU Plugins: None activated
• Plugins:
  • Test Reports 1.2.0

Testing Instructions

1. I'm using a very minimal theme ​like this
2. Then as commented in the OP, created the 3 templates, like a-template.php, b-template.php, c-template.php
3. Finally add the code in the supp artifacts to add a menu item to display with get_page_templates
4. 🐞 Exactly as commented, ordering is done by file name and not by template name as it should

Actual Results

1. ✅ Error condition occurs (reproduced).

Supplemental Artifacts

Added this to functions.php:

function page_templates_admin_menu() {
    add_menu_page(
        'Page Templates',
        'Page Templates',
        'manage_options',
        'page-templates',
        'page_templates_admin_page',
        'dashicons-media-code',
        81
    );
}
add_action( 'admin_menu', 'page_templates_admin_menu' );
function show_page_templates() {
    
}


function page_templates_admin_page() {
    $templates = get_page_templates();
    echo '<div>';
    echo '<h1>Page Templates</h1>';
    
    echo '<ul>';
    foreach ( $templates as $filename => $name ) {
        echo '<li>' . $name . ' (' . $filename . ')</li>';
    }
    echo '</ul>';
    echo '</div>';
}

[johnnycocheroo454]

Proposed fix patch file

[johnnycocheroo454]

Proposed patch sorts page templates by their human-readable name before flipping the array, ensuring UI ordering by template name, patch file uploaded.

[SirLouen]

Thanks @johnnycocheroo454 I will be reviewing it asap.

[ant1busted]

Test Report

Description

This report validates whether the indicated patch works as expected.
The patch tested was johnnycocheroo454 from @johnnycocheroo454
I tried applying 49194-sort-page-templates-by-title.patch but it failed. The modified file is not the same as in the patch.

Patch tested: https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/49194

Environment

• WordPress: 7.0-beta2-20260305.115512
• PHP: 8.2.27
• Server: nginx/1.26.1
• Database: mysqli (Server: 8.0.35 / Client: mysqlnd 8.2.27)
• Browser: Firefox 148.0
• OS: Linux
• Theme: Twenty ten
• MU Plugins: None activated
• Plugins: None
  • Test Reports 1.2.1

Actual Results

1. ❌ Failed : The list was still following the value and not the name.

Additional Notes

• Any additional details worth mentioning.

Supplemental Artifacts

Screen captures here : ​https://imgur.com/a/N92QM9c