A list of digital elements to be sorted are converted to a group of analog signals. The group of analog signals are simultaneously compared to each other to determine the largest analog signal in the group. The largest analog signal is then compared to each of the analog signals in the group to determine which one or more of the analog signals in the group matches the largest analog signal. The matching one or more of the analog signals is removed from the group and the process is repeated until the group of analog signals have been sorted.