When you bleed your brakes, the order you work the four corners in matters. Do it in the wrong sequence and you can chase trapped air around the system for an hour. Here is the simple rule most vehicles follow and when it changes.
The classic order: furthest to nearest
On most traditional systems, you bleed starting at the wheel furthest from the master cylinder and finish at the closest one. That is usually right rear, left rear, right front, left front (RR, LR, RF, LF). The idea is to purge the longest brake lines - which hold the most air - first, working your way back toward the master cylinder. For the how-to itself, see brake bleeding basics.
Why the sequence exists
Air is compressible and brake fluid is not. A single bubble anywhere in a line gives you a soft, spongy pedal - see when a soft pedal is urgent. Bleeding longest-line-first means each corner you finish is fully solid before you move to a shorter run, so you never re-introduce air into a section you already cleared.
When the order is different
Not every car uses the diagonal-split furthest-first pattern. Many front-wheel-drive vehicles use a diagonal split (right front paired with left rear) and the factory service manual may specify a different sequence - sometimes even LF first. Always check your specific manual before you start; the manufacturer sequence wins over any general rule. Vehicles with ABS may also need a scan tool to cycle the pump.
Use fresh fluid and keep the reservoir full
Whatever the order, never let the master-cylinder reservoir run dry mid-bleed or you pull fresh air into the whole system and start over. Top it up after every corner. When you are done, a firm high pedal means success. If you are also replacing pads, grab new hardware and quality brake pads at the same time.