simplest way to add a minimum distance or gap between instantiated objects

Question

Hello, I am currently instantiating a prefab with a random amount and random locations, but as you would expect they sometimes instantiate too close to each other so, which would be the most simplest method to get them to have a minimum space in between them so far i have this:

void Start () { int starNum = Random.Range(1, 5);

  for (int i=0; i < starNum; i++){
    
     float Randomvalue = Random.Range(-1.0f, 2.0f);
     starlocation = new Vector3(Randomvalue*gap,  0.5f, -2f);
 
     GameObject starInstance = (GameObject)Instantiate(star, starlocation, Quaternion.identity);
     
  
     GameObject[] stararray = GameObject.FindGameObjectsWithTag ("star");
     starsLeft = stararray.Length;
  print(starsLeft); 
  }
 }

Answer 1

     Vector3 starLocation;
     GameObject[] starArray;
     float minStarDistanceX;
     GameObject star;
 
     void Start()
     {
         int starNum = Random.Range(1, 5);
         starArray = new GameObject[starNum];
         float starExtentX=0f; //or renderer bounds but will require to apply changes based on scale, or you can assign the value manually
         List<float> starXPositions = new List<float>();
 
         for(int i = 0; i < starNum; i++)
         {
             bool isAccepted = true;
             float randomXPos = 0;
 
             int safeCount = 0;
             do
             {
                 randomXPos = Random.Range(-1f, 2f);    //min and max X positions
                 
                 foreach (float f in starXPositions)
                 {
                     if (Mathf.Abs(f - randomXPos) < starExtentX + minStarDistanceX) //check distance from existing ones
                     {
                         isAccepted = false;
                         break;
                     }
                 }
 
                 safeCount++;
                 if (safeCount > 1000)       //in case it can not find any accepted positions
                 {
                     Debug.LogError("Unable to find proper X position"); //or throw an exception
                     break;
                 }
             } while (!isAccepted);
 
             starArray[i] = Instantiate(star, new Vector3(randomXPos, 0.5f, -2), Quaternion.identity);
             starXPositions.Add(randomXPos);
             if(i==0)
                       starExtentX = starArray[0].GetComponent<Collider>().bounds.extents.x;
             float starsLeft = starNum - i + 1;     //probably you meant this value
             print(starsLeft);
         }
     }

Generates positions till it gets one that is not too close to other stars.

Optimal conditions to function properly are: big space (min and max X positions should be quite far) small ammount of objects to be created in given space.

simplest way to add a minimum distance or gap between instantiated objects

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