Find Shortest element in Array

Question

I have a Array

string[] names = { "Jim Rand", "Barry Williams", "Nicole Dyne", "Peter Levitt", "Jane Jones", "Cathy Hortings"};

Is there any way to find which is the shortest(Length wise) element in this array and then store rest of elements in a different array.

Thanks, Ani

@ereOn: the syntax seems to be C#. but still, a language tag would definitely be more called for than any of the current tags. — David Hedlund
– David Hedlund, Commented Apr 21, 2010 at 7:50

David Hedlund · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-21 07:48:36Z

9

var orderedNames = names.OrderBy(name => name.Length);

string shortestName = orderedNames.First();

string[] otherNames = orderedNames.Skip(1).ToArray();

answered Apr 21, 2010 at 7:48

David Hedlund

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3 Comments

Eric Lippert Over a year ago

Note that this will be inefficient for large arrays; sorting the array requires O(n lg n) comparisons. There is an algorithm to solve this problem that is O(n). I also note that you sort the list twice in your solution. Calling First() orders the list. Calling Skip sorts the original list again. Remember, LINQ doesn't know that you haven't changed "names" on another thread between the calls; the answer might be different so the result has to be recomputed.

David Hedlund Over a year ago

@Eric Lippert: ah yes, good point. adding .ToList() in the original assignment to orderedNames should remedy that last issue, right?

Eric Lippert Over a year ago

Yes, though then you have the problem that you are copying the same data twice; once to a list that is only useful for its first element, and then to the shorter array.

Graviton · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-21 07:47:46Z

2

In C#, .Net 3.5:

string shortestName = names.Aggregate((n1, n2)=>n1.Length<n2.Length?n1:n2);

This is how you can store other elements in other array

var otherArrays = names.Exclude(new List<string>(){shortestName});

answered Apr 21, 2010 at 7:47

Graviton

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3 Comments

ereOn Over a year ago

+1. I love how C# made such a thing so simple ;) However you're missing the second part of the question which demands to store the others elements in an array.

David Hedlund Over a year ago

that gives you the length of the shortest item, tho; it doesn't tell you which item that is

Ani Over a year ago

Thanks a lot, I am new never tried this code..I ll try...Thanks again

Jon · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-03 05:46:17Z

1

There is no .Exclude method (or extension method) for an Array and he didn’t say that he wanted to change the collection type for the new Array. Your use of the .Aggregate is outstanding so let’s take it one step further and use .Aggregate to do the excluding as well!

Like this:

string shortestName = names.Aggregate((n1, n2) => n1.Length < n2.Length ? n1 : n2);
string nonArrayString = names.Aggregate((n1, n2) => n2 != shortestName ? n1 + " " + n2 : n1);
string[] newNames = nonArrayString.Split(' ');

David Hedlund’s technique is still far better because it’s easier to read! There are no bonus points for writing the most complicated answer... lol

edited Jul 3, 2011 at 5:46

Jon

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answered Jul 3, 2011 at 3:52

Jason E.

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