Before going to the program first let us understand what is a Linear Search?

Linear search:

Linear search is the simplest search algorithm. It is also called as sequential search.

Linear search is a method for finding a particular value in a list that checks each element in sequence until the desired element is found or the list is exhausted.

For Linear search the list need not be ordered.

Related: C program for binary search

Program code for Linear Search in C:

#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
void main()
{
    int a[10],i,size,item,pos,flag=0;
    clrscr();
    
    printf("\n  Enter the size of an array: ");
    scanf("%d",&size);
    
    printf("\n  Enter the elements of the array: ");
    
    //LOOP TO STORE THE ELEMENTS
    for(i=0;i<size;i++)
    {
        scanf("%d",&a[i]);
    }
    
    printf("\n  Enter the element to be searched: ");
    scanf("%d",&item);
    
    //LOOP TO CHECK WHETHER THE SEARCH ELEMENT IS PRESENT OR NOT
    for(i=0;i<size;i++)
    {
        if(item==a[i])
        {
            pos=i;
            flag=1;
            break;
        }
    }
    
    if(flag==1)
        printf("\n  The element is in the list and its position is: %d",pos+1);
    else
        printf("\n  The element is not found");
    getch();
}

Step by Step working of the above C Program:

1. For Linear Search, first the computer reads the array from the user.
2. Then it read the element to be searched.
3. Then it sets the value of flag = 0.
4. Then using for loop the element to be searched is compared to all other elements of the array.
5. If it find an equal match of the element then it assigns the value of ‘i’ to ‘pos‘ and also assigns flag = 1.
6. Finally if flag = 1 , then it is printed as “the element is in the list and its position is (position)” else it is printed as “the element is not found”.
7. Thus the program execution is completed.

Output:

TO DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM CODE :CLICK HERE