How to Sort an Array in Descending Order in C - Step by Step Examples

How to Sort an Array in Descending Order in C ?

Answer

To sort an array in descending order in C, you can use the `qsort` function from the `stdlib.h` library with a custom comparison function.

✐ Examples

1 Sort Array of Integers in Descending Order

In this example,

Create an array of integers, for example, numbers.
Define a custom comparison function that compares two integers in descending order.
Use the qsort function to sort the array of integers using the custom comparison function.
Print the sorted array to see the result.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int compare_desc(const void *a, const void *b) {
    return (*(int*)b - *(int*)a);
}

int main() {
    int numbers[] = {5, 2, 8, 1, 9};
    int size = sizeof(numbers) / sizeof(numbers[0]);
    qsort(numbers, size, sizeof(int), compare_desc);
    for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
        printf("%d ", numbers[i]);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output

9 8 5 2 1

2 Sort Array of Strings in Descending Order

In this example,

Create an array of strings, for example, words.
Define a custom comparison function that compares two strings in descending order.
Use the qsort function to sort the array of strings using the custom comparison function.
Print the sorted array to see the result.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

typedef const char* string;

int compare_desc(const void* a, const void* b) {
    return strcmp(*(string*)b, *(string*)a);
}

int main() {
    string words[] = {"apple", "banana", "cherry", "date"};
    int size = sizeof(words) / sizeof(words[0]);
    qsort(words, size, sizeof(string), compare_desc);
    for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
        printf("%s ", words[i]);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output

date cherry banana apple

Summary

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

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How to Sort an Array in Descending Order in C - Step by Step Examples

How to Sort an Array in Descending Order in C ?

Answer

✐ Examples

1 Sort Array of Integers in Descending Order

C Program

Output

2 Sort Array of Strings in Descending Order

C Program

Output

Summary

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