Sorting is one of the techniques that the computing paradigm pays utmost importance to. From ordering the results of a web search chronologically to rearranging the records of a large dataset for knowledge retrieval, sorting finds its application in all facets of the computer science society. Over the years, attempts to improve the efficiency of sorting techniques have seen new horizons. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the main sorting techniques used in parallel databases, their benefits and shortcomings. We also look into some of the latest approaches to parallel sorting techniques. © Research India Publications.