C program to find the second smallest element in an array using bubble sort

🔢 Find Second Smallest Element in Array (C Program)

#include <stdio.h>

void secondSmallest(int a[], int num)
{
    // Sort array in ascending order using Bubble Sort
    for (int i = 0; i < num - 1; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < num - i - 1; j++)
        {
            if (a[j] > a[j + 1])
            {
                int temp = a[j];
                a[j] = a[j + 1];
                a[j + 1] = temp;
            }
        }
    }

    // Directly print the second element after sorting
    printf("Second smallest element in the array: %d\n", a[1]);
}

int main()
{
    int num;
    printf("Enter the size of the array:\n");
    scanf("%d", &num);

    if (num < 2)
    {
        printf("Invalid! Need at least 2 numbers to find the second smallest element.\n");
        return 1;
    }

    int a[num];
    printf("Enter %d elements:\n", num);
    for (int i = 0; i < num; i++)
    {
        scanf("%d", &a[i]);
    }

    secondSmallest(a, num);
    return 0;
}
  

📘 Explanation:

• Takes input size and elements of the array.
• Uses Bubble Sort to sort the array in ascending order.
• After sorting, it prints the second element (i.e., second smallest).
• Handles invalid input when the size is less than 2.

🧪 Sample Output:

Enter the size of the array:
5
Enter 5 elements:
18 5 25 9 11
Second smallest element in the array: 9
    

🏷️ Keywords:

second smallest in C, bubble sort C example, sorting array in C, array programs for beginners, C sort and find element