How to find minimum element in an array using linear search in C language?

C programming language provides two types of searching techniques. They are as follows −

• Linear search
• Binary search

Linear Search

• Searching for the key element is done in a linear fashion.
• It is the simplest searching technique.
• It does not expect the list to be sorted.
• Limitation − It consumes more time and reduce the power of system.

Input (i/p): Unsorted list of elements, key.
Output (o/p):

• Success – If key is found.
• Unsuccessful – Otherwise.

Example1

Following is the C program to find minimum element in an array by using linear search −

#include<stdio.h>
int main (){
   int a[50], n, i, key, flag = 0;
   printf("enter the no: of elements");
   scanf ("%d",&n);
   printf("enter the elements:");
   for (i=0; i<n; i++)
      scanf( "%d", &a[i]);
   printf("enter a key element:");
   scanf ("%d", &key);
   for (i=0; i<n; i++){
      if (a[i] == key){
         flag = 1;
         break;
      }
   }
   if (flag == 1)
      printf("search is successful:");
   else
      printf("search is unsuccessfull:");
   return 0;
}

Output

When the above program is executed, it produces the following result −

enter the no: of elements 5
enter the elements:
12
34
56
78
89
enter a key element:56
search is successful:

Example2

Given below is another program to find the minimum element in array by using liner search −

#include <stdio.h>
int min_ele(int numbers[], int n){
   int min = numbers[0];
   int i;
   for (i = 1; i <= n; i++){
      if (min > numbers[i])
      min = numbers[i];
   }
   return min;
}
int main(){
   int n;
   printf("Enter no: of elements in an array: ");
   scanf("%d",&n);
   int numbers[n];
   int i;
   int min ;
   printf("Enter %d numbers : ", n);
   printf("\n");
   for (i = 0; i < n; i++){
      scanf("%d", &numbers[i]);
   }
   min = min_ele(numbers,n);
   printf("\In an array the minimum number is: %d\n", min);
   return 0;
}

Output

When the above program is executed, it produces the following result −

Enter no: of elements in an array: 5
Enter 5 numbers:
23
56
78
9
20
In an array the minimum number is: 9