CODE EXAMPLE FOR JAVA

java find nth smallest element using priority queue heap

public class MaxHeap {

    public static int  kthSmallestElement(int  k, int [] array){
        PriorityQueue<Integer> maxHeap = new  PriorityQueue<>(Collections.reverseOrder());
        int  length = array.length;
        for  (int  i = 0; i < length; i++){
            maxHeap.add(array[i]);
            if  (maxHeap.size() > k){
                maxHeap.poll();
            }
        }
        return  maxHeap.peek();
    }

    public static void  main(String[] args) {
        int [] array = {1, 3, 8, 9, 4, 7, 6};
        System.out .println(MaxHeap.kthSmallestElement(3, array));
    }
}