How to find the smallest number and position in JavaScript

This tutorial explains different ways to find the smallest number in an array of elements.

Find the smallest number and position in the array of javascript

There are multiple ways we can do

• one-way use for loop iteration

  • Assume, the index is zero and the minimum value is the first element
  • Iterate the array and check current value is the minimum value, if found assign the min value to the current value and position to the minimum position

Here is an example

var arr = [11, 2, 3, 7];

var index = 0;
var min = arr[0];
for (var i = 1; i < arr.length; i++) {
  if (arr[i] < min) {
    min = arr[i];
    index = i;
  }
}
console.log(index);
console.log(min);

Output:

1
2

• using Math.min function

Pass array to Math.min function

Math.min function returns the minimum group of values. It returns a minimum value. The index can be found using Array.indexOf() function.

ES6 example using spread operator:

Here is an example

var minElement = Math.min(...arr);

console.log(minElement);
console.log(arr.indexOf(minElement));

ES5 Example to find the minimum value

var minElement = Math.min.apply(null, arr); //min=1

console.log(minElement);
console.log(arr.indexOf(minElement));

• using Array reduce function

Array.reduce function iterates arrays and reduces the array of elements

var arr = [11, 2, 3, 7];

function minimum(arr) {
  let minimumIndex = 0;
  arr.reduce((accumulated, current, index) => {
    if (current < acc) {
      minimumIndex = index;
      return current;
    } else {
      return accumulated;
    }
  }, Infinity);
  console.log(minimumIndex)
  console.log(arr[minimumIndex]);
}
minimum(arr);