Java program to find the 2nd smallest number in an array

To find the 2nd smallest element of the given array, first of all, sort the array.

Sorting an array

• Compare the first two elements of the array
• If the first element is greater than the second swap them.
• Then, compare 2nd and 3rd elements if the second element is greater than the 3rd swap them.
• Repeat this till the end of the array.

After sorting an array print the 2nd element of the array.

Example

Live Demo

public class SmallestNumberInAnArray {
   public static void main(String args[]){
      int temp, size;
      int array[] = {10, 20, 25, 63, 96, 57};
      size = array.length;

      for(int i = 0; i<size; i++ ){
         for(int j = i+1; j<size; j++){
            if(array[i]>array[j]){
               temp = array[i];
               array[i] = array[j];
               array[j] = temp;
            }
         }
      }
      System.out.println("2nd Smallest element of the array is:: "+array[0]);
   }
}

Output

The 2nd Smallest element of the array is:: 10

Another solution

You can also sort the elements of the given array using the sort method of the java.util.Arrays class then, print the 2nd element of the array.

Example

Live Demo

import java.util.Arrays;
public class LargestNumberSample {
   public static void main(String args[]){
      int array[] = {10, 20, 25, 63, 96, 57};
      int size = array.length;
      Arrays.sort(array);
      System.out.println("sorted Array ::"+Arrays.toString(array));
      int res = array[1];
      System.out.println("2nd smallest element is ::"+res);
   }
}

Output

sorted Array ::[10, 20, 25, 57, 63, 96]
largest element is ::20