Write a Program to Sort an Array using Selection Sort in C with a practical example of for loop, while loop, and functions. This program uses Nested For Loop to sort the array elements using selection sort.
// using nested for loop
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a[100], number, i, j, temp;
printf("\n Please Enter the total Number of Elements : ");
scanf("%d", &number);
printf("\n Please Enter the Array Elements : ");
for(i = 0; i < number; i++)
scanf("%d", &a[i]);
for(i = 0; i < number; i++) {
for(j = i + 1; j < number; j++) {
if(a[i] > a[j]) {
temp = a[i];
a[i] = a[j];
a[j] = temp;
}
}
}
printf("\n Selection Sort Result : ");
for(i = 0; i < number; i++) {
printf(" %d \t", a[i]);
}
printf("\n");
return 0;
}

Here, in this C selection sort program, the For Loop will make sure that the number is between 1 and maximum size – 1.
First For Loop – First Iteration: for(i = 0; 0 < 4; 0++)
The condition is True so, it will enter into the second for loop.
Second For Loop – First Iteration: for(j = 1; 1 < 4; 1++) – This condition is True
if(a[0] > a[1]) => (10 > 9) – This condition is True
temp = 10
a[i] = a[j] => a[0] = 9
a[j] = temp => a[1] = 10
Now the array will be 9 10 0 11.
Second For Loop – Second Iteration: for(j = 2; 2 < 4; 2++) – True
if(a[0] > a[2]) => (9 > 0) – Condition is True
temp = a[0] => temp = 9
a[0] = a[2] => a[0] = 0
a[2] = temp => a[2] = 9
Now the array will be 0 10 9 11.
Do the same for the remaining Iterations of the second for loop. Next, repeat the same with the first C Programming for loop.
C Program for Selection Sort using for loop
In this selection sort program, we used a slightly different approach to demonstrate this.
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a[100], num, min, i, j, temp;
printf("\n Please Enter the total Elements : ");
scanf("%d", &num);
printf("\n Please Enter the Array Elements : ");
for(i = 0; i < num; i++)
scanf("%d", &a[i]);
for(i = 0; i < num - 1; i++) {
min = i;
for(j = i + 1; j < num; j++) {
if(a[min] > a[j]) {
min = j;
}
}
if(min != i)
{
temp = a[i];
a[i] = a[min];
a[min] = temp;
}
}
printf("\n Result : ");
for(i = 0; i < num; i++) {
printf(" %d \t", a[i]);
}
printf("\n");
return 0;
}
Please Enter the total Elements : 5
Please Enter the Array Elements : 10 2 19 0 10
Result : 0 2 10 10 19
Selection Sort Program using While Loop
In this program, we replaced the for loop with the While Loop.
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a[100], val, i, j, temp;
printf("\n Please Enter the total No. of Elements : ");
scanf("%d", &val);
printf("\n Please Enter the Array Elements : ");
for(i = 0; i < val; i++)
scanf("%d", &a[i]);
i = 0;
while( i < val) {
j = i + 1;
while( j < val) {
if(a[i] > a[j]) {
temp = a[i];
a[i] = a[j];
a[j] = temp;
}
j++;
}
i++;
}
printf("\n Result : ");
for(i = 0; i < val; i++) {
printf(" %d \t", a[i]);
}
printf("\n");
return 0;
}
Please Enter the total No. of Elements : 7
Please Enter the Array Elements : 20 0 25 19 4 22 16
Result : 0 4 16 19 20 22 25
C Selection Sort Program using Functions
This program uses Functions to separate the logic and Pointers to swap and rearrange the array elements by using this selection sort.
#include <stdio.h>
void Swap(int *x, int *y) {
int Temp;
Temp = *x;
*x = *y;
*y = Temp;
}
void selFunc(int a[], int number) {
int i, j;
for(i = 0; i < number; i++) {
for(j = i + 1; j < number; j++) {
if(a[i] > a[j]) {
Swap(&a[i], &a[j]);
}
}
}
}
int main()
{
int a[100], number, i;
printf("\n Please Enter the total Number of Elements : ");
scanf("%d", &number);
printf("\n Please Enter the Array Elements : ");
for(i = 0; i < number; i++)
scanf("%d", &a[i]);
selFuc(a, number);
printf("\n Result : ");
for(i = 0; i < number; i++) {
printf(" %d \t", a[i]);
}
printf("\n");
return 0;
}
Please Enter the total Number of Elements : 6
Please Enter the Array Elements : 12 3 0 22 19 -8
Result : -8 0 3 12 19 22