Arrays allow storing and accessing a collection of related data elements. An array contains elements of the same data type and stores them in consecutive memory locations. Arrays have properties like fixed size, contiguous memory allocation, and random element access via indexes. Arrays are useful for code optimization and ease of traversal but have a fixed size limitation. Common array types include single-dimensional, two-dimensional, and multi-dimensional arrays. Elements can be accessed and traversed using indexes in for loops.
2. Need of an Array
Till now, we have been storing data in simple variables.
Although storing data of a large number of people is quite difficult with the process
we use still.
To store this large data, the developers developed the concept of arrays in C
language
void main()
{
int rollno=1;
int rollno=2;
int rollno1=3;
}
3. Introduction
An array is a collection of similar data elements with same data type
The elements of the array are stored in consecutive memory locations and
are referenced by an index.
Index indicates an ordinal number of the elements counted from beginning of the array.
4. Properties of Array
The array contains the following properties.
Each element of an array is of same data type and carries the same size, i.e., int = 2
bytes.
Elements of the array are stored at contiguous memory locations where the first
element is stored at the smallest memory location.
Elements of the array can be randomly accessed since we can calculate the address
of each element of the array with the given base address and the size of the data
element.
5. Advantage of C Array
1) Code Optimization: Less code to the access the data.
2) Ease of traversing: By using the for loop, we can retrieve the elements of an array
easily.
3) Ease of sorting: To sort the elements of the array, we need a few lines of code only.
4) Random Access: We can access any element randomly using the array.
6. Disadvantage of C Array
1) Fixed Size: Whatever size, we define at the time of declaration of the array, we can't
exceed the limit. So, it doesn't grow the size dynamically like LinkedList
7. Arrays are of three types :
Single dimensional Array
Two-dimensional Array
Multi-dimensional Array
8. Single dimensional Array
The one dimensional array or single dimensional array in C language is the simplest
type of array that contains only one row for storing data.
One dimensional array is like a list of some items, which can be stored by
using only one dimension
9. Declaration of Array
An array must be declared before being used
Declaring an array means specifying three things
1. Data type-what kind of values it can store, like int, char, float, double
2. Name-to identify the array
3. Size-the maximum number of values that array can hold
Syntax :
datatype array_name[ size ];
Ex :
int rollno[10];
float marks[10];
10. Initialization of Arrays
Elements of the array can also be initialized at the time of declaration as in the case
of every variable.
Arrays are initialized as :
datatype array_name[size]={list of values};
Ex :
int a[5]={90,82,78,95,88};
a[0] a[1] a[2] a[3] a[4]
90 82 78 95 88
11. Accessing Array Elements
An element is accessed by indexing the array name. This is done by placing the index of
the element within square brackets after the name of the array.
Void main()
{
int a[5]={90,82,78,95,88};
printf(“value at a[0]: %d”,a[0]);
printf(“value at a[0]: %d”,a[1]);
printf(“value at a[0]: %d”,a[4]);
printf(“value at a[0]: %d”,a[3]);
}
12. Accessing Array Elements using for loop
We can able to read from and write all elements into array at a time using for loop
Loop counter variable of for loop is considered as index of array
Entering (write ) Data into array using for loop
int a[5];
int i;
for(i=0 ; i<5 ; i++)
{
printf(“Enter element: ”);
scanf(“%d”,&a[i])
}
13. Read Data from array using for loop
int i;
for(i=0 ; i<5 ; i++)
{
printf(“%d”,a[i]) ;
}
