find minimum number
in an array
[ for-loop ]

find minimum number in an array

Write a function that takes an array of numbers as input and returns the smallest number.


Example ...

Enter an array ...

[5, 4, 6, 8, 7] array

4 smallest number in the array

[6, 4, 10, 2, 8] array

2 smallest number in the array

Arrays are used to store multiple values in a single variable.

Each value is called an element, and each element has a numeric position in the array, known as its index.

Arrays are zero-indexed, meaning the first element is at index 0, the second at index 1, and so on.

Arrays can contain any data type, including numbers, strings, and objects.

const arr1 = [2, 4, 6]; array

arr1[0]; element at index 0 → 2

arr1[1]; element at index 1 → 4

arr1[2]; element at index 2 → 6

arr1[3]; element at index 3 → undefined index not found


Numbers are used to represent both integer and floating-point values.

Numbers are most commonly expressed in literal forms like 255 or 3.14159 ↴

let num1 = 5; → number

let num2 = 2.5; → number

let num3 = num1 + num2;

console.log(num3); returns ↴

7.5 → number


Find minimum number in an array using a for loop


for loop repeatedly executes a block of code until a specified condition evaluates to false.

The loop runs a block of code a set number of times, defined by an initialization, a condition, and an increment.

for (let x = 0; x < 4; x++) {

console.log(x);

}

Loop variable x is initialized to 0

Condition x < 4 is checked before each iteration.

The loop will continue to run as long as x is less than 4

The loop repeatedly executes a block of code 4 times, from 0 to 3

For each iteration of the loop, the current value of x is printed to the console.

After each iteration, x is incremented by 1 x++

When x reaches 4 the condition evaluates to false, terminating the loop.

0

1

2

3 → printed to console


Initialize an array from which to find the minimum number.

const array1 = [5, 8, 6, 4, 7]; → user input


Define a function findMinNumber to find minimum number.

function findMinNumber(arr) {}

The function takes an array as input arr and returns the smallest value found in that array.

Start with the first element as the minimum.

let min = arr[0] min

Iterate through arr starting from the second element.

for (let x = 1; x < arr.length; x++) {}

Check if current element arr[x] is less than the current minimum min

if (arr[x] < min) {}

Update min if the condition is true.

min = arr[x]

After the loop completes, return the minimum value found.

return min


Call the function with ↴

findMinNumber(array1);


Find the minimum number in an array.

arr = [5, 8, 6, 4, 7]

Loop through each number in the array.

for (let x = 1; x < arr.length; x++) {}

min = 5 start with first element as the minimum.

arr[x] = 8 start from second element.

arr[x] < min

Iteration ↴

1 8 < 5 false min = 5

2 6 < 5 false min = 5

3 4 < 5 true  min = 4 min updated

4 7 < 4 false min = 4

Once the loop has completed the minimum number 4 is returned.


Find the minimum number in an array.

const array1 = [5, 8, 6, 4, 7];

function findMinNumber(arr) {

let min = arr[0];

for (let x = 1; x < arr.length; x++) {

if (arr[x] < min) {

min = arr[x];

}

}

return min;

}

call function

findMinNumber(array1); returns ↴

4


Alternative using built-in Math.min() method.

const arr = [5, 4, 6, 8, 7]; numbers only

Math.min(...arr); returns ↴

4

Find minimum number in an array