Bubble sort program in C

In this post, you will learn how to write a bubble sort program using the C programming language.

Bubble sort is a very simple sorting technique, in this each element is compared with every other element in the list. This is also called sinking sort. It continuously compares the element with the adjacent item and swaps it if the element is in wrong order. If the element at the lower index is greater than the element at the higher index, then the two elements are interchanged as the element is placed before the bigger one.

This process is continue working till the largest element moves to the highest index position.

Bubble Sort Example

Suppose we have the following array-

A[] = {10, 43, 23, 56, 16}

These are the bubble sorting techniques.

Pass 1

Compare A[0] and A[1], since A[0] < A[1] then no interchange.

Compare A[1] and A[2], since A[1] > A[2] then interchange.

Compare A[2] and A[3], since A[2] < A[3] then no interchange.

Compare A[3] and A[4], since A[3] > A[4] then interchange.

Pass 2

Compare A[0] and A[1], since A[0] < A[1] then no interchange.

Compare A[1] and A[2], since A[1] < A[2] then no interchange.

Compare A[2] and A[3], since A[2] > A[3] then interchange.

Compare A[3] and A[4], since A[3] < A[4] then no interchange.

Bubble Sorting Algorithm

STEP 1: Repeat Step 2 For 1=0 to N-1
STEP 2: Repeat for J = 0 to N - I
STEP 3: IF A[J] > A[J+1]
		SWAP A[J] and A[J+1]
	[END of INNER LOOP]
[END of OUTER LOOP]
STEP 4: EXIT

Complexity of Bubble sort

Suppose n is the number of element in an array.

f(n) = (n-1)+(n-2)+(n-3)+.....+3+2+1
f(n) = n(n-1)/2
f(n) = n2/2 + O(n) 
     = O(n2)

Bubble sort program in C using for loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main(){

    int arr[50], num, x, y, temp;    

    printf("Enter the number of elements: ");
    scanf("%d", &num);    
    printf("Enter the value of elements: ");

    for(x = 0; x < num; x++)
        scanf("%d", &arr[x]);

    for(x = 0; x < num - 1; x++){       
        for(y = 0; y < num - x - 1; y++){          
            if(arr[y] > arr[y + 1]){               
                temp = arr[y];
                arr[y] = arr[y + 1];
                arr[y + 1] = temp;
            }
        }
    }

    printf("Sorted Array in Ascending Order: ");

    for(x = 0; x < num; x++){
        printf("%d  ", arr[x]);
    }
    return 0;

}

Enter the number of elements: 4
Enter the value of elements: 90 50 103 53 
Sorted Array in Ascending Order: 50  53  90  103  

Enter the number of elements: 6
Enter the value of elements: 89 39 23 79 53 19
Sorted Array in Ascending Order: 19  23  39  53  79  89 

Bubble sort program in C using while loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main(){

    int arr[50], num, x, y, temp;  
    printf("Enter the number of elements: ");
    scanf("%d", &num);   

    printf("Enter the value of elements: ");

    for(x = 0; x < num; x++)
        scanf("%d", &arr[x]);
    x = 0;

    while(x < num - 1){
        y = 0;        
        while(y < num - x - 1){
            if(arr[y] > arr[y + 1]){
                temp = arr[y];
                arr[y] = arr[y + 1];
                arr[y + 1] = temp;
            }
            y++;
        }       
        x++;
    }   

    printf("Sorted Array in Ascending Order:");
    for(x = 0; x < num; x++)
        printf("%d  ", arr[x]);
    return 0;
}

Enter the number of elements: 5
Enter the value of elements: 90 39 92 53 85
Sorted Array in Ascending Order:39  53  85  90  92

Bubble sort program in C using pointer

#include <stdio.h>

void SwapingNumbers(int *i, int *j){
    int temp;
    temp = *i;
    *i = *j;
    *j = temp;
}

void bubbleSortFunc(int arr[], int num){
    int x, y, temp;  
    for(x = 0; x < num - 1; x++) {    
        for(y = 0; y < num - x - 1; y++) {    
            if(arr[y] > arr[y + 1]) {
                SwapingNumbers(&arr[y], &arr[y + 1]);
            }
        }
    }
}

int main(){
    int arr[50], num, x;   
    printf("Enter the number of elements: ");
    scanf("%d", &num);    
    printf("Enter the value of elements: ");

    for(x = 0; x < num; x++)
        scanf("%d", &arr[x]);    
    bubbleSortFunc(arr, num);
    printf("Sorted Array in Ascending Order: ");

    for(x = 0; x < num; x++)
    {
        printf("%d  ", arr[x]);
    }
    return 0;
}

Enter the number of elements: 5
Enter the value of elements: 89 43 12 78 53
Sorted Array in Ascending Order: 12  43  53  78  89  

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