Find first and last positions of an element in a sorted array

Given a sorted array with possibly duplicate elements, the task is to find indexes of first and last occurrences of an element x in the given array.
Examples:

Input : arr[] = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125}    
        x = 5
Output : First Occurrence = 2
         Last Occurrence = 5

Input : arr[] = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 123, 125 }    
        x = 7
Output : First Occurrence = 6
         Last Occurrence = 6

The Naive Approach is to run a for loop and check given elements in an array.

1. Run a for loop and for i = 0 to n-1
2. Take first = -1 and last = -1 
3. When we find element first time then we update first = i 
4. We always update last=i whenever we find the element.
5. We print first and last.

C++

// C++ program to find first and last occurrence of
// an elements in given sorted array
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function for finding first and last occurrence
// of an elements
void findFirstAndLast(int arr[], int n, int x)
{
    int first = -1, last = -1;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        if (x != arr[i])
            continue;
        if (first == -1)
            first = i;
        last = i;
    }
    if (first != -1)
        cout << "First Occurrence = " << first
             << "nLast Occurrence = " << last;
    else
        cout << "Not Found";
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    int arr[] = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 };
    int n = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(int);
    int x = 8;
    findFirstAndLast(arr, n, x);
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to find first and last occurrence of
// an elements in given sorted array
import java.io.*;
 
class GFG {
    // Function for finding first and last occurrence
    // of an elements
    public static void findFirstAndLast(int arr[], int x)
    {
        int n = arr.length;
        int first = -1, last = -1;
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            if (x != arr[i])
                continue;
            if (first == -1)
                first = i;
            last = i;
        }
        if (first != -1) {
            System.out.println("First Occurrence = " + first);
            System.out.println("Last Occurrence = " + last);
        }
        else
            System.out.println("Not Found");
    }
 
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int arr[] = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 };
        int x = 8;
        findFirstAndLast(arr, x);
    }
}

Python3

# Python 3 program to find first and 
# last occurrence of an elements in
# given sorted array
 
 
# Function for finding first and last 
# occurrence of an elements
def findFirstAndLast(arr, n, x) :
    first = -1
    last = -1
    for i in range(0, n) :
        if (x != arr[i]) :
            continue
        if (first == -1) :
            first = i
        last = i
     
    if (first != -1) :
        print( "First Occurrence = ", first, 
               " \nLast Occurrence = ", last)
    else :
        print("Not Found")
         
         
# Driver code
arr = [1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 ]
n = len(arr)
x = 8
findFirstAndLast(arr, n, x)
     
 
# This code is contributed by Nikita Tiwari.

C#

// C# program to find first and last
// occurrence of an elements in given
// sorted array
using System;
 
class GFG {
 
    // Function for finding first and
    // last occurrence of an elements
    static void findFirstAndLast(int[] arr,
                                 int x)
    {
        int n = arr.Length;
        int first = -1, last = -1;
 
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            if (x != arr[i])
                continue;
            if (first == -1)
                first = i;
            last = i;
        }
        if (first != -1) {
            Console.WriteLine("First "
                              + "Occurrence = " + first);
            Console.Write("Last "
                          + "Occurrence = " + last);
        }
        else
            Console.Write("Not Found");
    }
 
    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {
        int[] arr = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3,
                      4, 7, 8, 8 };
        int x = 8;
        findFirstAndLast(arr, x);
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by nitin mittal.

PHP

<?php
// PHP program to find first and last
// occurrence of an elements in given
// sorted array
 
// Function for finding first and last
// occurrence of an elements
function findFirstAndLast( $arr, $n, $x)
{
    $first = -1; $last = -1;
    for ( $i = 0; $i < $n; $i++)
    {
        if ($x != $arr[$i])
            continue;
        if ($first == -1)
            $first = $i;
        $last = $i;
    }
    if ($first != -1)
        echo "First Occurrence = ", $first,
              "\n", "\nLast Occurrence = ",
                                     $last;
    else
        echo "Not Found";
}
 
// Driver code
    $arr = array(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4,
                                 7, 8, 8 );
    $n = count($arr);
    $x = 8;
     
    findFirstAndLast($arr, $n, $x);
     
// This code is contributed by anuj_67.
?>

Output:

First Occurrence = 8nLast Occurrence = 9

Time Complexity: O(n)
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

An Efficient solution to this problem is to use a binary search.
1. For the first occurrence of a number

  a) If (high >= low)
  b) Calculate  mid = low + (high - low)/2;
  c) If ((mid == 0 || x > arr[mid-1]) && arr[mid] == x)
         return mid;
  d) Else if (x > arr[mid])
        return first(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
  e) Else
        return first(arr, low, (mid -1), x, n);
  f) Otherwise return -1;

2. For the last occurrence of a number

  a) if (high >= low)
  b) calculate mid = low + (high - low)/2;
  c)if( ( mid == n-1 || x < arr[mid+1]) && arr[mid] == x )
         return mid;
  d) else if(x < arr[mid])
        return last(arr, low, (mid -1), x, n);
  e) else
       return last(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);      
  f) otherwise return -1;

C++

// C++ program to find first and last occurances of
// a number in a given sorted array
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
/* if x is present in arr[] then returns the index of
   FIRST occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise
   returns -1 */
int first(int arr[], int low, int high, int x, int n)
{
    if (high >= low) {
        int mid = low + (high - low) / 2;
        if ((mid == 0 || x > arr[mid - 1]) && arr[mid] == x)
            return mid;
        else if (x > arr[mid])
            return first(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
        else
            return first(arr, low, (mid - 1), x, n);
    }
    return -1;
}
 
/* if x is present in arr[] then returns the index of
   LAST occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise
   returns -1 */
int last(int arr[], int low, int high, int x, int n)
{
    if (high >= low) {
        int mid = low + (high - low) / 2;
        if ((mid == n - 1 || x < arr[mid + 1]) && arr[mid] == x)
            return mid;
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            return last(arr, low, (mid - 1), x, n);
        else
            return last(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
    }
    return -1;
}
 
// Driver program
int main()
{
    int arr[] = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 };
    int n = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(int);
 
    int x = 8;
    printf("First Occurrence = %d\t",
           first(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n));
    printf("\nLast Occurrence = %d\n",
           last(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n));
 
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to find first and last occurrence of
// an elements in given sorted array
import java.io.*;
 
class GFG {
    /* if x is present in arr[] then returns the index of
    FIRST occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise
    returns -1 */
    public static int first(int arr[], int low, int high, int x, int n)
    {
        if (high >= low) {
            int mid = low + (high - low) / 2;
            if ((mid == 0 || x > arr[mid - 1]) && arr[mid] == x)
                return mid;
            else if (x > arr[mid])
                return first(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
            else
                return first(arr, low, (mid - 1), x, n);
        }
        return -1;
    }
 
    /* if x is present in arr[] then returns the index of
    LAST occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise
    returns -1 */
    public static int last(int arr[], int low, int high, int x, int n)
    {
        if (high >= low) {
            int mid = low + (high - low) / 2;
            if ((mid == n - 1 || x < arr[mid + 1]) && arr[mid] == x)
                return mid;
            else if (x < arr[mid])
                return last(arr, low, (mid - 1), x, n);
            else
                return last(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
        }
        return -1;
    }
 
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
 
        int arr[] = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 };
        int n = arr.length;
        int x = 8;
        System.out.println("First Occurrence = " + first(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n));
        System.out.println("Last Occurrence = " + last(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n));
    }
}

Python3

# Python 3 program to find first and
# last occurances of a number in 
# a given sorted array
 
# if x is present in arr[] then 
# returns the index of FIRST 
# occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1],
# otherwise returns -1 
def first(arr, low, high, x, n) :
    if(high >= low) :
        mid = low + (high - low) // 2
        if( ( mid == 0 or x > arr[mid - 1]) and arr[mid] == x) :
            return mid
        elif(x > arr[mid]) :
            return first(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n)
        else :
            return first(arr, low, (mid - 1), x, n)
     
    return -1
 
 
# if x is present in arr[] then 
# returns the index of LAST occurrence
# of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise
# returns -1 
def last(arr, low, high, x, n) :
    if (high >= low) :
        mid = low + (high - low) // 2
        if (( mid == n - 1 or x < arr[mid + 1]) and arr[mid] == x) :
            return mid
        elif (x < arr[mid]) :
            return last(arr, low, (mid - 1), x, n)
        else :
            return last(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n)
             
    return -1
     
 
# Driver program
arr = [1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8]
n = len(arr)
 
x = 8
print("First Occurrence = ",
      first(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n))
print("Last Occurrence = ",
      last(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n))
 
 
# This code is contributed by Nikita Tiwari.

C#

// C# program to find first and last occurrence
// of an elements in given sorted array
using System;
 
class GFG {
 
    /* if x is present in arr[] then
    returns the index of FIRST 
    occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1],
    otherwise returns -1 */
    public static int first(int[] arr, int low,
                            int high, int x, int n)
    {
        if (high >= low) {
            int mid = low + (high - low) / 2;
 
            if ((mid == 0 || x > arr[mid - 1])
                && arr[mid] == x)
                return mid;
            else if (x > arr[mid])
                return first(arr, (mid + 1),
                             high, x, n);
            else
                return first(arr, low,
                             (mid - 1), x, n);
        }
 
        return -1;
    }
 
    /* if x is present in arr[] then returns
    the index of LAST occurrence of x in 
    arr[0..n-1], otherwise returns -1 */
    public static int last(int[] arr, int low,
                           int high, int x, int n)
    {
        if (high >= low) {
            int mid = low + (high - low) / 2;
 
            if ((mid == n - 1 || x < arr[mid + 1])
                && arr[mid] == x)
                return mid;
            else if (x < arr[mid])
                return last(arr, low, (mid - 1),
                            x, n);
            else
                return last(arr, (mid + 1),
                            high, x, n);
        }
 
        return -1;
    }
 
    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {
 
        int[] arr = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7,
                      8, 8 };
        int n = arr.Length;
        int x = 8;
        Console.WriteLine("First Occurrence = "
                          + first(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n));
 
        Console.Write("Last Occurrence = " + last(arr, 0, n - 1, x, n));
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by nitin mittal.

PHP

<?php
// PHP program to find first
// and last occurances of a 
// number in a given sorted array
 
// if x is present in arr[] then
// returns the index of FIRST 
// occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], 
// otherwise returns -1 
function first($arr, $low, $high, 
                          $x, $n)
{
    if($high >= $low)
    {
        $mid = floor($low + ($high - $low) / 2);
        if(($mid == 0 or $x > $arr[$mid - 1]) 
                        and $arr[$mid] == $x)
            return $mid;
        else if($x > $arr[$mid])
            return first($arr, ($mid + 1),
                           $high, $x, $n);
        else
            return first($arr, $low, ($mid - 1),
                                        $x, $n);
    }
    return -1;
}
 
 
// if x is present in arr[] 
// then returns the index of
// LAST occurrence of x in 
// arr[0..n-1], otherwise
// returns -1 
function last($arr, $low, $high,
                        $x, $n)
{
    if ($high >= $low)
    {
        $mid = floor($low + ($high - 
                         $low) / 2);
        if (( $mid == $n - 1 or $x < 
            $arr[$mid + 1]) and
            $arr[$mid] == $x)
                return $mid;
        else if ($x < $arr[$mid])
            return last($arr, $low, 
               ($mid - 1), $x, $n);
        else
            return last($arr, ($mid + 1), 
                          $high, $x, $n);
    return -1;
    }
}
 
    // Driver Code
    $arr = array(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8);
    $n = count($arr);
 
    $x = 8;
    echo "First Occurrence = ",
          first($arr, 0, $n - 1, $x, $n), "\n";
    echo "Last Occurrence = ",
          last($arr, 0, $n - 1, $x, $n);
 
// This code is contributed by anuj_67
?>

Output:

First Occurrence = 8    
Last Occurrence = 9

Time Complexity : O(log n)
Auxiliary Space : O(Log n)
Iterative Implementation of Binary Search Solution :

C++

// C++ program to find first and last occurances of
// a number in a given sorted array
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
/* if x is present in arr[] then returns the index of 
FIRST occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise 
returns -1 */
int first(int arr[], int x, int n)
{
    int low = 0, high = n - 1, res = -1;
    while (low <= high) {
        // Normal Binary Search Logic
        int mid = (low + high) / 2;
        if (arr[mid] > x)
            high = mid - 1;
        else if (arr[mid] < x)
            low = mid + 1;
 
        // If arr[mid] is same as x, we
        // update res and move to the left
        // half.
        else {
            res = mid;
            high = mid - 1;
        }
    }
    return res;
}
 
/* if x is present in arr[] then returns the index of 
LAST occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], otherwise 
returns -1 */
int last(int arr[], int x, int n)
{
    int low = 0, high = n - 1, res = -1;
    while (low <= high) {
        // Normal Binary Search Logic
        int mid = (low + high) / 2;
        if (arr[mid] > x)
            high = mid - 1;
        else if (arr[mid] < x)
            low = mid + 1;
 
        // If arr[mid] is same as x, we
        // update res and move to the right
        // half.
        else {
            res = mid;
            low = mid + 1;
        }
    }
    return res;
}
 
// Driver program
int main()
{
    int arr[] = { 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 };
    int n = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(int);
 
    int x = 8;
    printf("First Occurrence = %d\t",
           first(arr, x, n));
    printf("\nLast Occurrence = %d\n",
           last(arr, x, n));
 
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to find first 
// and last occurances of a 
// number in a given sorted array
import java.util.*;
class GFG{
 
// if x is present in arr[] then 
// returns the index of FIRST 
// occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], 
// otherwise returns -1 
static int first(int arr[], 
                 int x, int n)
{
  int low = 0, high = n - 1, 
      res = -1;
  while (low <= high) 
  {
    // Normal Binary Search Logic
    int mid = (low + high) / 2;
    if (arr[mid] > x)
      high = mid - 1;
    else if (arr[mid] < x)
      low = mid + 1;
 
    // If arr[mid] is same as 
    // x, we update res and 
    // move to the left half.
    else
    {
      res = mid;
      high = mid - 1;
    }
  }
  return res;
}
 
// If x is present in arr[] then returns 
// the index of LAST occurrence of x in 
// arr[0..n-1], otherwise returns -1 
static int last(int arr[], int x, int n)
{
  int low = 0, high = n - 1, 
      res = -1;
  while (low <= high) 
  {
    // Normal Binary Search Logic
    int mid = (low + high) / 2;
    if (arr[mid] > x)
      high = mid - 1;
    else if (arr[mid] < x)
      low = mid + 1;
 
    // If arr[mid] is same as x,
    // we update res and move to 
    // the right half.
    else
    {
      res = mid;
      low = mid + 1;
    }
  }
  return res;
}
 
// Driver program
public static void main(String[] args)
{
  int arr[] = {1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 
               3, 4, 7, 8, 8};
  int n = arr.length;
  int x = 8;
  System.out.println("First Occurrence = " + 
                      first(arr, x, n));
  System.out.println("Last Occurrence = " + 
                      last(arr, x, n));
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by Chitranayal

Python3

# Python3 program to find first and 
# last occurances of a number in a
# given sorted array 
 
# If x is present in arr[] then
# returns the index of FIRST
# occurrence of x in arr[0..n-1], 
# otherwise returns -1 
def first(arr, x, n):
     
    low = 0
    high = n - 1
    res = -1
     
    while (low <= high):
         
        # Normal Binary Search Logic 
        mid = (low + high) // 2
         
        if arr[mid] > x:
            high = mid - 1
        elif arr[mid] < x:
            low = mid + 1
             
        # If arr[mid] is same as x, we 
        # update res and move to the left 
        # half. 
        else:
            res = mid
            high = mid - 1
 
    return res
 
# If x is present in arr[] then returns
# the index of FIRST occurrence of x in
# arr[0..n-1], otherwise returns -1
def last(arr, x, n):
     
    low = 0
    high = n - 1
    res = -1
     
    while(low <= high):
         
        # Normal Binary Search Logic 
        mid = (low + high) // 2
         
        if arr[mid] > x:
            high = mid - 1
        elif arr[mid] < x:
            low = mid + 1
             
        # If arr[mid] is same as x, we 
        # update res and move to the Right
        # half. 
        else:
            res = mid
            low = mid + 1
 
    return res
 
# Driver code
arr = [ 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 8 ]
n = len(arr)
x = 8
 
print("First Occurrence =", first(arr, x, n))
print("Last Occurrence =", last(arr, x, n))
 
# This code is contributed by Ediga_Manisha.

Output:

First Occurrence = 8    
Last Occurrence = 9

Time Complexity : O(log n)
Auxiliary Space : O(1)
Extended Problem : Count number of occurrences in a sorted array
This article is contributed by DANISH_RAZA. If you like GeeksforGeeks and would like to contribute, you can also write an article using contribute.geeksforgeeks.org or mail your article to contribute@geeksforgeeks.org. See your article appearing on the GeeksforGeeks main page and help other Geeks.
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