C++ - Algorithm - Using min(), max(), minmax() functions

To be precise, in this tutorial, we are going to see the min(), max(), minmax(), min_element(), max_element() and minmax_element() functions.

You'll have no excuse anymore to get the minimum and maximum value from an array or when comparing two variables.

Oh by the way, two functions are taken from the C++ 11: minmax() and minmax_element().

Explanation

The minmax() is a unique function to retrieve min and max values from 2 values or from an entire array.

With the keyword auto we don't need to tell what is the type of each element.

It's then interesting to use the minmax() to avoid using min() and max() functions.

Code

// main.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
#include <string>
#include <array>

using namespace std;

int main(int ac, char* av[]) {
    
    // variables
    string message_min("Minimum is ");
    string message_max("Maximum is ");
    string const hello = "hello";
    string const bye0 = "bye0";
    string const bye1 = "bye1";
    string const bye2 = "bye2";
    char letter1 = 'a';
    char letter2 = 'm';
    double number1 = 1.2213;
    double number2 = 1.2212;
    int number3 = -232;
    int number4 = 0;
    int number5 = 999;
    int number6 = 562;
    array <int, 10> elements {8, 3, 1, 9, 0, 2, 7, 4, 6, 5};
    auto elements_2 = { number3, number4, number5, number6 };

    // get min
    int result_min_1 = min(letter1, letter2);
    char result_min_2 = min(letter1, letter2);
    string result_min_3 = min(hello, bye1);
    string result_min_4 = min(bye1, bye2);
    string result_min_5 = min(bye1, bye0);
    double result_min_6 = min(number1, number2);
    int result_min_7 = min(number3, number4);
    int result_min_8 = min(number4, number4);

    // get max
    int result_max_1 = max(letter1, letter2);
    char result_max_2 = max(letter1, letter2);
    string result_max_3 = max(hello, bye1);
    string result_max_4 = max(bye1, bye2);
    string result_max_5 = max(bye1, bye0);
    double result_max_6 = max(number1, number2);
    int result_max_7 = max(number3, number4);
    int result_max_8 = max(number4, number4);

    // get min and max
    auto result_minmax = minmax(elements_2);
    
    // get min and max elements in an array
    auto result_min_element = min_element(elements.begin(), elements.end());
    auto result_max_element = max_element(elements.begin(), elements.end());
    
    // get minmax elements in an array
    auto result_minmax_element = minmax_element(elements.begin(), elements.end());

    //
    // display
    //

    // min()
    cout << message_min << result_min_1 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_2 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_3 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_4 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_5 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_6 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_7 << endl;
    cout << message_min << result_min_8 << endl << endl;

    // max()
    cout << message_max << result_max_1 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_2 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_3 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_4 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_5 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_6 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_7 << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_max_8 << endl << endl;

    // minmax()
    cout << message_min << result_minmax.first << endl;
    cout << message_max << result_minmax.second << endl << endl;

    // min_element() and max_element()
    cout << message_min << *result_min_element << endl;
    cout << message_max << *result_max_element << endl << endl;

    // minmax_element()
    cout << message_min << *result_minmax_element.first << endl;
    cout << message_max << *result_minmax_element.second << endl << endl;

    while (1337);
    return 0;
}

Output

Minimum is bye1
Minimum is bye0
Minimum is 1.2212
Minimum is -232
Minimum is 0

Maximum is 109
Maximum is m
Maximum is hello
Maximum is bye2
Maximum is bye1
Maximum is 1.2213
Maximum is 0
Maximum is 0

Minimum is -232
Maximum is 999

Minimum is 0
Maximum is 9

Minimum is 0
Maximum is 9

Conclusion

Different ways to get a same result.

Good job, you've made it.