max element algorithm - NormandaleWells/CSn GitHub Wiki

index max_element(A)

max_element searches array A for the maximum element and returns its index. If there are multiple occurrences of the maximum element in A, the index of the one with the lowest index is returned. A.length must be at least 1; if not, invalid is returned.

Here is the full pseudocode for max_element:

index max_element(A)
    if A.length = 0
        return invalid
    index max_index = 0
    for i in [1,A.length)
        if A[i] > A[max_index]
            max_index = i
    return max_index

Why is it better to return the index of the maximum element, rather than its value?