Find the Largest Array Value
A running maximum tracks the best value seen so far.
What is Find the Largest Array Value?
A running maximum tracks the best value seen so far.
Find the maximum value in an array.
Important points
- Compile with warnings enabled and fix every warning.
- Know the lifetime and type of every value.
- Validate input and keep array bounds explicit.
C and C++ code examples
main.c
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void) {
int values[] = {-4, 7, 23, 9, 12}; int maximum = values[0];
// Compare every remaining value with the current maximum.
for (size_t i = 1; i < sizeof values / sizeof values[0]; ++i)
if (values[i] > maximum) maximum = values[i];
printf("max=%d\n", maximum);
}
max=23C++
main.cpp
#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
int main() {
std::vector values{-4, 7, 23, 9, 12};
// max_element returns an iterator to the largest value.
std::cout << "max=" << *std::max_element(values.begin(), values.end()) << '\n';
}
max=23C and C++ comparison
Initialize from the first element so negative-only arrays are handled correctly.
C
C exposes small procedural APIs and makes representation details explicit.
C++
C++ retains the low-level model while adding safer library types and abstractions.
Practice exercises
Run both versions, then modify them to observe the different language guarantees.
- Add invalid and boundary-value inputs.
- Compile with -Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic.
- Move reusable declarations into a header and implementation file.