An array is a data structure that stores elements at contiguous memory locations. It's one of the most used data structures in programming.
In this article, you'll learn how to find the minimum and maximum elements in an array using library functions. You'll also learn how to write your own custom function to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array.
How to Find the Minimum and Maximum Elements of an Array Using Library Functions
Below are the C++, Python, and JavaScript programs to find the maximum and minimum elements of an array:
C++ Program to Find the Maximum and Minimum Elements in an Array
The max_element() and min_element() functions are used to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array.
// C++ program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array
// using max_element() and min_element() functions
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
void printArrayElements(int arr[], int size)
{
for(int i=0; i<size; i++)
{
cout << arr[i] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
int main()
{
int arr1[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};
int size1 = sizeof(arr1)/sizeof(arr1[0]);
cout << "Array 1: " << endl;
printArrayElements(arr1, size1);
cout << "Maximum element in the array: " << *max_element(arr1, arr1+size1) << endl;
cout << "Minimum element in the array: " << *min_element(arr1, arr1+size1) << endl;
int arr2[] = {34, 26, 32, 76, 11, 87};
int size2 = sizeof(arr2)/sizeof(arr2[0]);
cout << "Array 2: " << endl;
printArrayElements(arr2, size2);
cout << "Maximum element in the array: " << *max_element(arr2, arr2+size2) << endl;
cout << "Minimum element in the array: " << *min_element(arr2, arr2+size2) << endl;
int arr3[] = {65, 56, -90, 345, 52, 76, 23};
int size3 = sizeof(arr3)/sizeof(arr3[0]);
cout << "Array 3: " << endl;
printArrayElements(arr3, size3);
cout << "Maximum element in the array: " << *max_element(arr3, arr3+size3) << endl;
cout << "Minimum element in the array: " << *min_element(arr3, arr3+size3) << endl;
return 0;
}
Output:
Array 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum element in the array: 6
Minimum element in the array: 1
Array 2:
34 26 32 76 11 87
Maximum element in the array: 87
Minimum element in the array: 11
Array 3:
65 56 -90 345 52 76 23
Maximum element in the array: 345
Minimum element in the array: -90
Python Program to Find the Maximum and Minimum Elements in an Array
The max() and min() functions are used to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array.
# Python program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array
# using max() and min() functions
def printListElements(arr, size):
for i in range(size):
print(arr[i], end=" ")
print()
arr1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
size1 = len(arr1)
print("Array 1:")
printListElements(arr1, size1)
print("Maximum element in the array:", max(arr1))
print("Minimum element in the array:", min(arr1))
arr2 = [34, 26, 32, 76, 11, 87]
size2 = len(arr2)
print("Array 2:")
printListElements(arr2, size2)
print("Maximum element in the array:", max(arr2))
print("Minimum element in the array:", min(arr2))
arr3 = [65, 56, -90, 345, 52, 76, 23]
size3 = len(arr3)
print("Array 3:")
printListElements(arr3, size3)
print("Maximum element in the array:", max(arr3))
print("Minimum element in the array:", min(arr3))
Output:
Array 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum element in the array: 6
Minimum element in the array: 1
Array 2:
34 26 32 76 11 87
Maximum element in the array: 87
Minimum element in the array: 11
Array 3:
65 56 -90 345 52 76 23
Maximum element in the array: 345
Minimum element in the array: -90
JavaScript Program to Find the Maximum and Minimum Elements in an Array
The Math.max.apply() and Math.min.apply() functions are used to find the maximum and minimum element in an array.
// JavaScript program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array
// using Math.max.apply() and Math.min.apply() functions
function printArrayElements(arr, size) {
for(let i=0; i<size; i++) {
document.write(arr[i] + " ");
}
document.write("
");
}
var arr1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6];
var size1 = arr1.length;
document.write("Array 1: " + "
");
printArrayElements(arr1, size1);
document.write("Maximum element in the array: " + Math.max.apply(Math,arr1) + "
");
document.write("Minimum element in the array: " + Math.min.apply(Math,arr1) + "
");
var arr2 = [34, 26, 32, 76, 11, 87];
var size2 = arr2.length;
document.write("Array 2: " + "
");
printArrayElements(arr2, size2);
document.write("Maximum element in the array: " + Math.max.apply(Math,arr2) + "
");
document.write("Minimum element in the array: " + Math.min.apply(Math,arr2) + "
");
var arr3 = [65, 56, -90, 345, 52, 76, 23];
var size3 = arr3.length;
document.write("Array 3: " + "
");
printArrayElements(arr3, size3);
document.write("Maximum element in the array: " + Math.max.apply(Math,arr3) + "
");
document.write("Minimum element in the array: " + Math.min.apply(Math,arr3) + "
");
Output:
Array 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum element in the array: 6
Minimum element in the array: 1
Array 2:
34 26 32 76 11 87
Maximum element in the array: 87
Minimum element in the array: 11
Array 3:
65 56 -90 345 52 76 23
Maximum element in the array: 345
Minimum element in the array: -90
How to Find the Minimum and Maximum Elements of an Array Using a Custom Function
Below are the C++, Python, and JavaScript programs to find the maximum and minimum elements of an array:
C++ Program to Find the Maximum and Minimum Elements in an Array
Below is the C++ program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array:
// C++ program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
// Function to find the maximum element in the array
int findMaximumElement(int arr[], int size)
{
int maxElement = arr[0];
for (int i=0; i<size; i++)
{
if(arr[i]>maxElement)
{
maxElement = arr[i];
}
}
return maxElement;
}
// Function to find the minimum element in the array
int findMinimumElement(int arr[], int size)
{
int minElement = arr[0];
for (int i=0; i<size; i++)
{
if(arr[i]<minElement)
{
minElement = arr[i];
}
}
return minElement;
}
void printArrayElements(int arr[], int size)
{
for(int i=0; i<size; i++)
{
cout << arr[i] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
int main()
{
int arr1[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};
int size1 = sizeof(arr1)/sizeof(arr1[0]);
cout << "Array 1: " << endl;
printArrayElements(arr1, size1);
cout << "Maximum element in the array: " << findMaximumElement(arr1, size1) << endl;
cout << "Minimum element in the array: " << findMinimumElement(arr1, size1) << endl;
int arr2[] = {34, 26, 32, 76, 11, 87};
int size2 = sizeof(arr2)/sizeof(arr2[0]);
cout << "Array 2: " << endl;
printArrayElements(arr2, size2);
cout << "Maximum element in the array: " << findMaximumElement(arr2, size2) << endl;
cout << "Minimum element in the array: " << findMinimumElement(arr2, size2) << endl;
int arr3[] = {65, 56, -90, 345, 52, 76, 23};
int size3 = sizeof(arr3)/sizeof(arr3[0]);
cout << "Array 3: " << endl;
printArrayElements(arr3, size3);
cout << "Maximum element in the array: " << findMaximumElement(arr3, size3) << endl;
cout << "Minimum element in the array: " << findMinimumElement(arr3, size3) << endl;
return 0;
}
Output:
Array 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum element in the array: 6
Minimum element in the array: 1
Array 2:
34 26 32 76 11 87
Maximum element in the array: 87
Minimum element in the array: 11
Array 3:
65 56 -90 345 52 76 23
Maximum element in the array: 345
Minimum element in the array: -90
Python Program to Find the Maximum and Minimum Elements of an Array
Below is the Python program to find the maximum and minimum elements of an array:
# Python program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array
# Function to find the maximum element in the array
def findMaximumElement(arr, size):
maxElement = arr[0]
for i in range(size):
if arr[i]>maxElement:
maxElement = arr[i]
return maxElement
# Function to find the minimum element in the array
def findMinimumElement(arr, size):
minElement = arr[0]
for i in range(size):
if arr[i]<minElement:
minElement = arr[i]
return minElement
def printListElements(arr, size):
for i in range(size):
print(arr[i], end=" ")
print()
arr1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
size1 = len(arr1)
print("Array 1:")
printListElements(arr1, size1)
print("Maximum element in the array:", findMaximumElement(arr1, size1))
print("Minimum element in the array:", findMinimumElement(arr1, size1))
arr2 = [34, 26, 32, 76, 11, 87]
size2 = len(arr2)
print("Array 2:")
printListElements(arr2, size2)
print("Maximum element in the array:", findMaximumElement(arr2, size2))
print("Minimum element in the array:", findMinimumElement(arr2, size2))
arr3 = [65, 56, -90, 345, 52, 76, 23]
size3 = len(arr3)
print("Array 3:")
printListElements(arr3, size3)
print("Maximum element in the array:", findMaximumElement(arr3, size3))
print("Minimum element in the array:", findMinimumElement(arr3, size3))
Output:
Array 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum element in the array: 6
Minimum element in the array: 1
Array 2:
34 26 32 76 11 87
Maximum element in the array: 87
Minimum element in the array: 11
Array 3:
65 56 -90 345 52 76 23
Maximum element in the array: 345
Minimum element in the array: -90
JavaScript Program to Find the Maximum and Minimum Elements in an Array
Below is the JavaScript program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array:
// JavaScript program to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array
// Function to find the maximum element in the array
function findMaximumElement(arr, size) {
var maxElement = arr[0];
for (let i=0; i<size; i++) {
if(arr[i]>maxElement) {
maxElement = arr[i];
}
}
return maxElement;
}
// Function to find the minimum element in the array
function findMinimumElement(arr, size) {
var minElement = arr[0];
for (let i=0; i<size; i++) {
if(arr[i]<minElement) {
minElement = arr[i];
}
}
return minElement;
}
function printArrayElements(arr, size) {
for(let i=0; i<size; i++) {
document.write(arr[i] + " ");
}
document.write("
");
}
var arr1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6];
var size1 = arr1.length;
document.write("Array 1: " + "
");
printArrayElements(arr1, size1);
document.write("Maximum element in the array: " + findMaximumElement(arr1, size1) + "
");
document.write("Minimum element in the array: " + findMinimumElement(arr1, size1) + "
");
var arr2 = [34, 26, 32, 76, 11, 87];
var size2 = arr2.length;
document.write("Array 2: " + "
");
printArrayElements(arr2, size2);
document.write("Maximum element in the array: " + findMaximumElement(arr2, size2) + "
");
document.write("Minimum element in the array: " + findMinimumElement(arr2, size2) + "
");
var arr3 = [65, 56, -90, 345, 52, 76, 23];
var size3 = arr3.length;
document.write("Array 3: " + "
");
printArrayElements(arr3, size3);
document.write("Maximum element in the array: " + findMaximumElement(arr3, size3) + "
");
document.write("Minimum element in the array: " + findMinimumElement(arr3, size3) + "
");
Output:
Array 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum element in the array: 6
Minimum element in the array: 1
Array 2:
34 26 32 76 11 87
Maximum element in the array: 87
Minimum element in the array: 11
Array 3:
65 56 -90 345 52 76 23
Maximum element in the array: 345
Minimum element in the array: -90
Solve Problems Based on Arrays
In this article, you learned how to find the maximum and minimum elements in an array. You can use built-in functions or even create your own function to find the maximum and minimum elements.
The array data structure is widely used in programming. You must know how to perform some basic operations on an array like reversing an array, traversing an array, inserting/deleting elements in an array, etc. if you're looking to be as prepared as possible for coding interviews.