Find intersection/common elements of two sorted integer arrays in java (example)

• Given two sorted arrays containing distinct elements.
• We would like to find out the intersection of two sorted arrays.
  • Intersection is nothing but the common elements of two sorted arrays.

1. Examples: intersection or common elements of two sorted arrays in java

Example #1:

• Given X= { 1, 2, 3, 4 } &  Y = {3, 4, 7, 9}
• We would like to find out the intersection of two arrays.
• The intersection X ∩ Y or common elements of two arrays is {3,4}

Example #2:

• Given X= { 10, 12, 16, 20 } &  Y = {12, 18, 20, 22}
• We would like to find out the intersection of two arrays.
• The intersection X ∩ Y or common elements of two arrays is {12,20}

2. Algorithm – Intersections of two sorted integer arrays in java (example)

• Given two sorted arrays containing unique elements.
• Start traversing the both arrays, till we reach end of any array
  • if element of first array is less than second array
    • increment index of first array
  • if element of second array is less than first array
    • increment index of second array
  • else, elements of both arrays are equal
    • print element (it is common element)
    • increment index of both arrays
• end of traversal of loop.
• We will get intersection of two sorted arrays

Time complexity of algorithm is O (m+n)

3. Program – Intersection or common element of two sorted arrays in java

package org.learn.arrays;

import java.util.Arrays;

public class IntersectionSortedArrays {

 public static void main(String[] args) {

  int[] firstArray = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
  int[] secondArray = { 3, 4, 7, 9 };

  String arr1 = Arrays.toString(firstArray);
  String arr2 = Arrays.toString(secondArray);

  System.out.printf("1. First array is : %s", arr1);
  System.out.printf("\n2. Second array is : %s", arr2);

  System.out.printf("\n3. Intersection of two sorted arrays is :");
  intersection(firstArray, secondArray);

  firstArray = new int[] { 10, 12, 16, 20 };
  secondArray = new int[] { 12, 18, 20, 22 };

  arr1 = Arrays.toString(firstArray);
  arr2 = Arrays.toString(secondArray);

  System.out.println("\n");
  System.out.printf("1. First array is : %s", arr1);
  System.out.printf("\n2. Second array is : %s", arr2);

  System.out.printf("\n3. Intersection of two sorted arrays is :");
  intersection(firstArray, secondArray);
 }

 private static void intersection(int[] arr1, int[] arr2) {
  int length1 = arr1.length;
  int length2 = arr2.length;

  int index1 = 0, index2 = 0;
  while (index1 < length1 && index2 < length2) {
   if (arr1[index1] < arr2[index2]) {
    index1++;
   } else if (arr1[index1] > arr2[index2]) {
    index2++;
   } else {
    System.out.printf(" %d", arr1[index1]);
    index1++;
    index2++;
   }
  }
 }
}

4. Output – Intersection of two sorted integer arrays in java (example)

1. First array is : [1, 2, 3, 4]
2. Second array is : [3, 4, 7, 9]
3. Intersection of two sorted arrays is : 3 4

1. First array is : [10, 12, 16, 20]
2. Second array is : [12, 18, 20, 22]
3. Intersection of two sorted arrays is : 12 20