Overview of Arrays In C

What is array in C

• An array is a collection of elements of the same data type stored in contiguous memory locations.

• An array is declared with a specified data type, a name, and a size. The size of an array determines the number of elements that the array can store.

• Arrays in C are a powerful tool for storing and processing collections of data. They are versatile, efficient, and can simplify your code by allowing you to store and manipulate large amounts of data with a single variable.

For Example:

int arr[5];

• Above example declares an array arr of 5 integers.

• The first element of the array is stored at the first memory location, the second element is stored at the second memory location, and so on.

• Arrays can be accessed using their index, which starts from 0. For example,

• arr[0] - refers to the first element of the array

• arr[1] - refers to the second element, and so on.

Basic Example - arrays in C

Here is a basic example of using arrays in C:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int i;
    int scores[5]; // declare an array of 5 integers

    // initialize the elements of the array
    scores[0] = 90;
    scores[1] = 85;
    scores[2] = 80;
    scores[3] = 75;
    scores[4] = 70;

    // print the elements of the array
    printf("The scores are:\n");
    for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
    {
        printf("%d\n", scores[i]);
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Explanation

• Here we declare an array of 5 integers named scores.
• We then initialize the elements of the array with the values 90, 85, 80, 75, and 70.
• Finally, we use a for loop to print the elements of the array.

When to use arrays in C

Arrays in C are useful in situations where you need to store a large number of elements and perform operations on them, such as sorting, searching, or manipulating the elements in some way.

Here are a few examples of when arrays can be useful in C:

• Store a large number of values of the same data type: If you need to store 100 test scores, you can use an array of 100 int values to store the scores.

• Process collections of data: If you need to find the average of a set of numbers, you can store the numbers in an array and use a loop to process each number and calculate the average.

• Store strings: In C, strings are typically stored as arrays of characters. For example, you can use an array of char values to store a string such as "Hello, World!".

• Store a collection of structures: Arrays can be used to store collections of structures. For example, you can use an array of structures to store a collection of employee records.

When NOT to use arrays in C

There are a few cases when you might not want to use arrays in C:

• When you only need a few elements: If you don't have many elements to store, using an array might be too complicated.

• When you need to store different types of data: Arrays can only store elements of the same data type, so you can't use them if you need to store different types of data.

• When you need a collection that can change size: Arrays have a fixed size, so they can't be used if you need a collection that can change size.

• When you need a more complex data structure: Arrays are a basic data structure, and they might not be enough if you need something more complex.