DATA STRUCTURES PROGRAM • TREES & BINARY SEARCH TREES

Find the Minimum and Maximum in a Binary Search Tree

Learn how to find the minimum and maximum in a binary search tree using a clear C program.

BeginnerBinary treeNodesRecursion

PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING

Input and expected output

Sample input
No input required
Sample output
Minimum = 20, Maximum = 80

COMPLETE C PROGRAM

Complete C implementation

dsa-bst-minimum-maximum.c
Open in compiler
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

struct TreeNode { int data; struct TreeNode *left; struct TreeNode *right; };
struct TreeNode *new_node(int value)
{
    struct TreeNode *node = malloc(sizeof *node);
    if (node == NULL) exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    node->data = value; node->left = NULL; node->right = NULL;
    return node;
}
struct TreeNode *sample_tree(void)
{
    struct TreeNode *root = new_node(1);
    root->left = new_node(2); root->right = new_node(3);
    root->left->left = new_node(4); root->left->right = new_node(5);
    root->right->left = new_node(6); root->right->right = new_node(7);
    return root;
}
void free_tree(struct TreeNode *root)
{
    if (root == NULL) return;
    free_tree(root->left); free_tree(root->right); free(root);
}
struct TreeNode *bst_insert(struct TreeNode *root, int value)
{
    if (root == NULL) return new_node(value);
    if (value < root->data) root->left = bst_insert(root->left, value);
    else if (value > root->data) root->right = bst_insert(root->right, value);
    return root;
}
void inorder(struct TreeNode *root)
{
    if (root == NULL) return;
    inorder(root->left); printf("%d ", root->data); inorder(root->right);
}

int main(void)
{
    int values[] = {50, 30, 70, 20, 40, 60, 80};
    struct TreeNode *root = NULL;
    for (int index = 0; index < 7; index++) root = bst_insert(root, values[index]);
    struct TreeNode *minimum = root, *maximum = root;
    while (minimum->left != NULL) minimum = minimum->left;
    while (maximum->right != NULL) maximum = maximum->right;
    printf("Minimum = %d, Maximum = %d\n", minimum->data, maximum->data);
    free_tree(root);
    return 0;
}

GUIDED CODE TOUR • NOT LIVE EXECUTION

Study the program line by line

Use the real compiler button above to run and debug with different inputs.

CURRENT STEP

Select Start to walk through the important lines.

SELECTED LINE

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EXPECTED OUTPUT FOR THE SAMPLE

Minimum = 20, Maximum = 80
0%Step 0 of 0

PROGRAM EXPLANATION

Algorithm and explanation

  1. Read the required input values.
  2. Follow only left links for the minimum and only right links for the maximum.
  3. Display the computed result.

Follow only left links for the minimum and only right links for the maximum.

EFFICIENCY

Time and space complexity

Time complexity

O(h)

Auxiliary space

O(h)

DEBUGGING CHECKLIST

Common mistakes

Check this

Use the correct format specifier for every variable.

Check this

Initialize variables before using their values.

Check this

Check braces, semicolons and input order carefully.

Try it yourself

Practice: Run the program with the sample input, predict its output, and then test one boundary case of your own.