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).

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;
}

Download Minimum element in array program.

Output of program:

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;
}

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.