Traverse Operation in Array: Program, Algorithm and Flowchart

What is traversal operation in array?

Traversal operation in array or simply traversing an array means, Accessing or printing each element of an array exactly once so that the data items (values) of the array can be checked or used as part of some other operation or process (This accessing and processing is sometimes called “visiting” the array).

? Note: Accessing or printing of elements always takes place one by one.

Visual example

How do you traverse in an array step by step?

Let’s see…

Algorithm for Traversing an Array:

Step 01: Start
Step 02: [Initialize counter variable. ] Set i = LB.
Step 03: Repeat for i = LB to UB.
Step 04: Apply process to arr[i].
Step 05: [End of loop. ]
Step 06: Stop

Variables used:

i : Loop counter or counter variable for the for loop.
arr : Array name.
LB : Lower bound. [ The index value or simply index of the first element of an array is called its lower bound ]
UB : Upper bound. [ The index of the last element is called its upper bound ]

Flowchart for Traversing an Array:

Implementation in C:

// writing a program in C to perform traverse operation in array
 
void main()
{
    int i, size;
    int arr[] = {1, -9, 17, 4, -3};     //declaring and initializing array "arr"
    
    size = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);     //sizeof(arr) will give 20 and sizeof(arr[0]) will give 4
    
    printf("The array elements are: ");
    
    for(i = 0; i < size; i++)
        printf("\narr[%d]= %d", i, arr[i]);

}

If you compile and run the above program, it will produce the following result:

Output:

The array elements are:
arr[0]= 1
arr[1]= -9
arr[2]= 17
arr[3]= 4
arr[4]= -3

Implementation in C++:

// writing a program in C++ to perform traverse operation in array

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    int i, size;
    int arr[] = {53, 99, -11, 5, 102};    //declaring and initializing array "arr"
    
    size = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);
    
    cout << "The array elements are: ";
    
    for(i = 0; i < size; i++)
        cout << "\n" << "arr[" << i << "]= " << arr[i];
    
    return 0;
}