Do I really need to know sorting algorithms in JavaScript for my career?

Honestly, just pass a comparison function to `.sort()` and you're good to go. You probably won't write a more efficient sort on your own. But it's all about the fundamentals—getting that knowledge down can't hurt!

Most of the time, you'll find the built-in sort is good enough. However, understanding sorting algorithms can improve your problem-solving skills for optimizing more complex sorting tasks. Personally, I had to create a merge step for sorted data in a project, which was super helpful!

Yeah, they often want to see you write algorithms to test your coding skills. While sorting algorithms are common and relatively straightforward, I think it's silly too. You might occasionally need a custom algorithm for performance, but libraries usually handle that for you.

I believe asking about these algorithms in interviews is valid. If someone tried to use a custom sorting function in a codebase, it would probably get rejected since `.sort()` is so efficient. But showing that you can approach a simple algorithm demonstrates a grasp of software development principles.

It's not just about practicality; it's about understanding the concepts. Even if you mostly use `.sort()`, knowing how algorithms like quicksort or mergesort work can come in handy. It's sort of like knowing how an engine works—you may not build one, but it helps you understand the car better!