Introduction
Why arrays?
The fundamental data types namely char, int, float are constrained by the fact
that a variable of these types can store only one value at any given time. In order
to handle a large volume of data in terms of reading, processing and printing we
need a derived data type known as array.
Def:
An array is a fixed-size sequenced collection of elements of the same data type.
Examples where the concept of an array can be used:
• List of temperatures recorded every hour in a day, or a month, or a year.
• List of employees in an organization.
Memory Representation of Array
Introduction…..
• List of employees in an organization.
• List of products and their cost sold by a store.
• Test scores of a class of students.
For instance, we can use an array name salary to represent a set of salaries of a
group of employees in an organization. We can refer to the individual salaries by
writing a number called index or subscript in brackets after the array name.
e.g. salary[10]
represents the salary of 10th employee.
Introduction…..
Advantages and Disadvantages of Array
Advantages
• It is used to represent multiple data items of same type by using only single
name.
• It can be used to implement other data structures like linked list, stacks,
queues, trees, graphs, etc.
• 2D arrays are used to represent matrices.
• The elements of arrays are stored in consecutive memory locations so
searching an element is easy.
Introduction…..
Disadvantages
• We must know in advance that how many elements are to be stored in array.
• Array is static structure. It means that array is of fixed size. The memory which
is allocated to array can not be increased or decreased.
• Since array is of fixed size, if we allocate more memory than requirement then
the memory space will be wasted. And if we allocate less memory than
requirement, then it can create problem.
• As the elements are stored in consecutive memory locations so insertions and
deletions are very difficult and time consuming.
Introduction…..
The ability to use a single name to represent a collection of items and to refer to
an item by specifying the item number enables us to develop concise and
efficient programs.
We can use arrays to represent not only simple lists of values but also tables of
data in two, three or more dimensions. We have the following types of arrays:
• One-dimensional array
• Two- dimensional array
• Multi- dimensional array
Example…..
// Program to take 5 values from the user and store them
in an array
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
int values[5];
printf("Enter 5 integers: ");
// taking input and storing it in an array
for(int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
scanf("%d", &values[i]);
}
printf("Displaying integers: ");
// printing elements of an array
for(int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
printf("%d\n", values[i]);
}
return 0;
}
Example…..
Bounds Checking
Data entered with a subscript exceeding the array
size will simply be placed in memory outside the
array; probably on top of other data, or on the
program itself.
Out of Bound
MCQ - 1
1. Which of these best describes an array?
A. A data structure that shows a hierarchical behaviour
B. Container of objects of similar types
C. Arrays are immutable once initialized
D. Array is not a data structure
Answer: B.
Two - Dimensional Array
int x[3][3];
2D Array
Two-Dimensional Array
#include<stdio.h>
void main(){
int disp[2][3];
int i, j;
for(i=0; i<2; i++) {
for(j=0;j<3;j++) {
printf("Enter value for disp[%d][%d]:", i, j);
scanf("%d", &disp[i][j]);
}
}
//Displaying array elements
printf("Two Dimensional array elements:\n");
for(i=0; i<2; i++) {
for(j=0;j<3;j++) {
printf("%d ", disp[i][j]);
if(j==2){
printf("\n");
}
}
}
}
MCQ - 2
2. What are the advantages of arrays?
A. Objects of mixed data types can be stored
B. Elements in an array cannot be sorted
C. Index of first element of an array is 1
D. Easier to store elements of same data type
Answer: D.
