C++ Arrays Overview

Introduction to Arrays

An array is a collection of variables of the same type, stored in contiguous memory locations. It allows you to store multiple values in a single variable, simplifying data management.

Key Concepts

• Declaration: To declare an array, specify the type of elements and the number of elements.
  dataType arrayName[arraySize];
  Example:
  int numbers[5]; // Declares an integer array of size 5
• Initialization: You can initialize an array at the time of declaration.
  dataType arrayName[arraySize] = {value1, value2, ...};
  Example:
  int numbers[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; // Initializes the array with values
• Accessing Elements: Use the index to access or modify array elements. Indexing starts at 0.
  arrayName[index]; // Access the element at the specified index
  Example:
  int firstNumber = numbers[0]; // Accesses the first element (1)

Important Points

• Fixed Size: Once declared, the size of the array cannot be changed.
• Homogeneous Data: All elements in an array must be of the same data type.
• Memory Allocation: Arrays are stored in contiguous memory locations, making them efficient for accessing elements.

Example Usage

Here’s a simple example demonstrating array declaration, initialization, and access:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    // Declare and initialize an array
    int scores[3] = {90, 85, 88};

    // Access and print array elements
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
        cout << "Score " << i + 1 << ": " << scores[i] << endl;
    }

    return 0;
}

Conclusion

Arrays are fundamental in C++ for storing collections of data. Understanding how to declare, initialize, and access arrays is essential for effective programming in C++.