C program to find minimum element in array

C code to find minimum or smallest element present in an array. It also prints the location or index at which minimum element occurs in array. This can also be done by using pointers (see both the codes). Our algorithm first assumes first element as minimum and then compare it with other elements if an element is smaller than it then it becomes the new minimum and this process is repeated till complete array is scanned.

C programming code

#include <stdio.h>
 
int main() 
{
    int array[100], minimum, size, c, location = 1;
 
    printf("Enter the number of elements in array\n");
    scanf("%d",&size);
 
    printf("Enter %d integers\n", size);
 
    for ( c = 0 ; c < size ; c++ )
        scanf("%d", &array[c]);
 
    minimum = array[0];
 
    for ( c = 1 ; c < size ; c++ ) 
    {
        if ( array[c] < minimum ) 
        {
           minimum = array[c];
           location = c+1;
        }
    } 
 
    printf("Minimum element is present at location %d and it's value is %d.\n", location, minimum);
    return 0;
}

If minimum occurs two or more times times in array then index at which it occurs first is printed or minimum value at smallest index. You can modify this code this code to print largest index at which minimum occur. You can also store all indices at which minimum occur in an array.

Download Minimum element in array program.

Output of program:

C programming code to find minimum using function

Our function returns index at which minimum element occur.

#include <stdio.h>
 
int find_minimum(int[], int); 
 
int main() {
  int c, array[100], size, location, minimum;
 
  printf("Input number of elements in array\n");
  scanf("%d", &size);
 
  printf("Input %d integers\n", size);
 
  for (c = 0; c < size; c++)
    scanf("%d", &array[c]);
 
  location = find_minimum(array, size);
  minimum  = array[location];
 
  printf("Minimum element location = %d and value = %d.\n", location + 1, minimum);
  return 0;
}
 
int find_minimum(int a[], int n) {
  int c, min, index;
 
  min = a[0];
  index = 0;
 
  for (c = 1; c < n; c++) {
    if (a[c] < min) {
       index = c;
       min = a[c];
    }
  }
 
  return index;
}

C programming code using pointers

#include <stdio.h>
 
int main() 
{
    int array[100], *minimum, size, c, location = 1;
 
    printf("Enter the number of elements in array\n");
    scanf("%d",&size);
 
    printf("Enter %d integers\n", size);
 
    for ( c = 0 ; c < size ; c++ )
        scanf("%d", &array[c]);
 
    minimum = array;
    *minimum = *array;
 
    for ( c = 1 ; c < size ; c++ ) 
    {
        if ( *(array+c) < *minimum ) 
        {
           *minimum = *(array+c);
           location = c+1;
        }
    } 
 
    printf("Minimum element found at location %d and it's value is %d.\n", location, *minimum);
    return 0;
}