How to Shuffle an Array in C

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How to Shuffle an Array in C ?

Answer

In C, you can shuffle an array using the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm.

✐ Examples

1 Shuffle Array of Integers

In this example,

We have an array named intArray containing integers.
We apply the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm to intArray.
We print the shuffled array to demonstrate the shuffling.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
void shuffleArray(int array[], int n) {
    srand(time(NULL));
    for (int i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
        int j = rand() % (i + 1);
        int temp = array[i];
        array[i] = array[j];
        array[j] = temp;
    }
}
int main() {
    int intArray[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
    int n = sizeof(intArray) / sizeof(int);
    shuffleArray(intArray, n);
    printf("Shuffled Array: ");
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        printf("%d ", intArray[i]);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output

Shuffled Array: 5 2 3 4 1

2 Shuffle Array of Strings

In this example,

We have an array named strArray containing strings.
We apply the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm to strArray.
We print the shuffled array to demonstrate the shuffling.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <time.h>
void shuffleArray(char *array[], int n) {
    srand(time(NULL));
    for (int i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
        int j = rand() % (i + 1);
        char *temp = array[i];
        array[i] = array[j];
        array[j] = temp;
    }
}
int main() {
    char *strArray[] = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"};
    int n = sizeof(strArray) / sizeof(strArray[0]);
    shuffleArray(strArray, n);
    printf("Shuffled Array: ");
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        printf("%s ", strArray[i]);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output

Shuffled Array: banana cherry apple

Summary

In this tutorial, we learned How to Shuffle an Array in C language with well detailed examples.

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How to Shuffle an Array in C

How to Shuffle an Array in C ?

Answer

✐ Examples

1 Shuffle Array of Integers

C Program

Output

2 Shuffle Array of Strings

C Program

Output

Summary

More C Arrays Tutorials