C Program to find Second smallest element in an array

September 17, 2025

Find Second Smallest Element in an Array in C

Today we learn how to Find the Second smallest element in an array with help of the C Programming concept.

second smallest element

Different methods covered in this post

  • Method 1: Uses two loops find 2nd smallest
  • Method 2: Uses a single loop to find 2nd smallest

Let’s look at both the methods one by one

second-smallest-element-in-array-in-c

Method 1

Working

  • We assign min = arr[0]
  • In loop 1, we find the smallest element in the array
  • We assign sec_smallest = INT_MAX
  • In loop 2, we try to find the element with the given condition
    • (arr[i] != smallest && arr[i] < sec_smallest)

Method Code in C

Run
Run 
 
#include <stdio.h>
#include <limits.h>

int secSmallest(int arr[], int n)
{
    // assigning first element as smallest temporarily
    int smallest = arr[0];
    
    // we find the smallest element here
    for (int i=0; i < n; i++){
        if(arr[i] < smallest)
            smallest = arr[i];
    }
    
    // temporarily assinging largest max value
    int sec_smallest = INT_MAX;
    
    // finding second smallest here
    for (int i=0; i < n; i++){
        if(arr[i] != smallest && arr[i] < sec_smallest)
            sec_smallest = arr[i];
    }

    return sec_smallest;
    
}
int main()
{
    int arr[] = {70, 40, 30, 20, 10, 90};
    
    // get the length of the array
    int len = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);    
    
    printf("The 2nd smallest : %d",secSmallest(arr, len));
}

Output

The 2nd smallest : 20
While loop in C
 

Find the Smallest and largest element in an array

Calculate the sum of elements in an array 

Reverse an Array

Sort first half in ascending order and second half in descending 

Method 2

We try to find smallest and 2nd smallest with variable first and second respectively

Working

  • first = second = INT_MAX
  • If the current element being read is the smallest i.e. if (arr[i] < first)
    • Do second = first, first = arr[i];
  • else if you’re reading an element that lies between first and second
    • Do second = arr[i]
Second smallest element in an array in C
Run
Run 
#include <stdio.h>
#include <limits.h>

void get2ndSmallest(int arr[], int n)
{
    int i, first, second;
 
    /* The array must have 2 or more items */
    if (n < 2)
    {
        printf(" Array has lesser than 2 items");
        return;
    }
 
    first = second = INT_MAX;
    for (i = 0; i < n ; i ++)
    {
        /* If the current array element is smaller than the first
        then update both first and second */
        if (arr[i] < first)
        {
            second = first;
            first = arr[i];
        }
 
        /* If arr[i] lies between first and second
        then update second */
        else if (arr[i] < second && arr[i] != first)
            second = arr[i];
    }
    if (second == INT_MAX)
        printf("We don't have 2nd smallest item in array\n");
    else
        printf("The 2nd smallest : %d",second);
}
 
int main()
{
    int arr[] = {70, 40, 30, 20, 10, 90};
    int len = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);

    get2ndSmallest(arr, len);

    return 0;
}

Output

The 2nd smallest : 20
While loop in C

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