A sorter sorts a list of elements using a plurality of registers. Each register stores a value of at most one element. Each register receives an input from a previous one of the registers indicating whether the previous one of the registers is storing a value of a list element before storing a value of a list element. Each register supplies an indication to a next register whether the register is storing a list element value. A register sends a stored value and the register identification to a register stack. The register stack uses the value as an index to store a pointer to the register. In that way a sorted list is created in the register stack. A register stores list location information for one or more occurrences of a value stored by the register. Overflow of list location information is handled in a duplicate values stack.