JTable table = new JTable(data, columnNames); DefaultTableModel model = new DefaultTableModel(data, columnNames); JTable table = new JTable(model); TableRowSorter<DefaultTableModel> sorter = new TableRowSorter<>(model); table.setRowSorter(sorter); sorter.toggleSortOrder(0); DefaultTableModel model = new DefaultTableModel(data, columnNames); JTable table = new JTable(model); TableRowSorter<DefaultTableModel> sorter = new TableRowSorter<>(model); table.setRowSorter(sorter); RowFilter<DefaultTableModel, Object> filter = new RowFilter<DefaultTableModel, Object>() { public boolean include(Entry<? extends DefaultTableModel, ? extends Object> entry) { } }; sorter.setRowFilter(filter);