Arrays in C++: An Overview

Arrays in C++ are a collection of similar data type elements. They are one
of the most versatile and powerful data structures in C++. In this C++
tutorial, we’ll explore what makes arrays so great: their structure, how they
store information, and how they are used in various algorithms.

What is an Array in C++ Programming?

An array in C++ programming language is a powerful data structure that
allows users to store and manipulate a collection of elements, all of
the same data typein a single variable. Simply, it is a collection of
elements of the same data type.
Arrays are the derived data type in C++ that can store values of both
- fundamental data types like int, and char; and derived data
types like pointers, and structure. The values get stored at contagious
memory locations that can be accessed with their index number.
Syntax
dataType arrayName[arraySize];
Example
int a[5];
Here, an integer type array a is declared with the size 5. It can store 5
integer values.
Types of Arrays in C++

There are two types of array in C++, which are:

1. Single-dimensional array: It is a collection of elements of the same
data typestored in a contiguous block of memory.
2. Multi-dimensional array: It is an array that contains one or more
arrays as its elements. We will see this in the next
section multidimensional arrays in C++.
In this tutorial, we will cover all the aspects of a Single dimensional array and
in brief about Multi-dimensional arrays.

Array Initialization in C++

There are various ways to do this:
 Initialize at the time of declaration using {}.
int a[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
 Initialize an array without specifying its size at declaration
time.
int a[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
Though we haven't specified the size, the compiler understands the size as 5
due to the initialization of 5 elements.
 Initialization by using the index of an element
 int marks[5];
 marks[0]=80; //the index of an array starts with 0.
 marks[1]=60;

1
 marks[2]=70;
 marks[3]=85;
 marks[4]=75;
 What if the elements initialized are less than the size of the
array declared?
Example
// store only 3 elements in the array
int a[5] = {1, 2, 3};
Here an array a of size 5 is declared. We have initialized it with 3 elements
only. In this case, the compiler assigns random values to the remaining
places. Many a time, this random value is 0.
Accessing Array Elements in C++
To access the array elements, use the index number of the required element.
The array index starts with 0. The index of the last element is n-1.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int a[] = {25, 50, 75, 100};
cout << a[0] << '\n';
cout << a[1] << '\n';
cout << a[2] << '\n';
cout << a[3] << '\n';
return 0;
}
Run Code >>
Output
25
50
75
100
Remember that when you access an unavailable element in an array, the
program may result in an unexpected output (undefined behavior).
Sometimes you might get an error and some other times your program may
run correctly.
Changing the Elements of an Array in C++
To change the value of a specific element, refer to the index number:
Example
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
int a[] = {25, 50, 75, 100, 45};
a[3] = 60;
cout << a[3] << '\n';
return 0;
}

2
Run Code >>
Output
60
Traversing an Array in C++
 To traverse an array, for loop is used.
Example
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {
string fruits[5] = {"Apple", "Mango", "Banana", "Orange", "Grapes"};
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
cout << fruits[i] << '\n';
}
return 0;
}
Run Code >>
In the above code, we have created a string array, fruits. We are printing all
the fruit names along with its index inside the fruits array using for loop.
Output
Apple
Mango
Banana
Orange
Grapes
 We have seen the for-each loop in the loops in C++ programming
section. This loop is used exclusively to traverse through elements in
an array. In this loop, we don't need to specify the number of iterations
given by the size of the array.
Example
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
string fruits[5] = {"Apple", "Mango", "Banana", "Orange", "Grapes"};
for (string i : fruits) {
cout << i << "\n";
}
return 0;
}
Run Code >>
Output
Apple
Mango
Banana

3
Orange
Grapes
 If we haven't specified the size of the array during declaration, we can
use the sizeof() operator to traverse through the array
Example in C++ Online Editor
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {
string fruits[5] = {"Apple", "Mango", "Banana", "Orange", "Grapes"};
for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(fruits) / sizeof(string); i++) {
cout << fruits[i] << '\n';
}
return 0;
}
Run Code >>
Output
Apple
Mango
Banana
Orange
Grapes
Input and Output Array Elements in C++
We can use the cin function to take inputs of an array from the user.
Example in C++ Editor
// Program to take values of the array from the user and print the array
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
int a[5];
cout << "Enter the values of an integer array:" << endl;

// Taking input and storing it in an array

for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
cin >> a[i];
}

cout << "Displaying integers:" << endl;

// Printing elements of the array

for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
cout << a[i] << endl;
}
return 0;

4
}
The above code uses the for loop to take input values for an array a. After
storing the elements in an array, it again uses the for loop to print all of
them.
Output
Enter the values of an integer array:
1
2
3
4
5
Displaying integers:
1
2
3
4
5
Multidimensional Arrays in C++
1. Two Dimensional Arrays in C++
In this type of array, two indexes are there to describe each element, the first
index represents a row, and the second index represents a column.

Syntax of a 2D Array

data_Type array_name[m][n];
Here,
 m: row number
 n: column number
Example of a 2D array in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
int arr[6][6];

// Initialization
for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < 6; j++) {
arr[i][j] = i + j;
}
}

for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {

5
for (int j = 0; j < 6; j++) {
cout << arr[i][j] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}

return 0;
}
Run Code >>
Output
012345
123456
234567
345678
456789
5 6 7 8 9 10
2. Three Dimensional Arrays in C++
The 3D array uses three dimensions. There are three indices—the row index,
column index, and depth index to uniquely identify each element in a 3D
array.
Syntax of a 3D Array

data_Type array_name[d][r][c];
Here,
 d: Number of 2D arrays or depth of array.
 r: Number of rows in each 2D array.
 c: Number of columns in each 2D array.
Example of a 3D array in C++ Online Compiler

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{

int arr[3][3][3];
// initializing the array
for (int i = 1; i < 4; i++) {
for (int j = 1; j < 4; j++) {
for (int k = 1; k < 4; k++) {
arr[i][j][k] = i + j + k;
}
}
}

for (int i = 1; i < 4; i++) {

6
cout << i << "st layer:" << endl;
for (int j = 1; j < 4; j++) {
for (int k = 1; k < 4; k++) {
cout << arr[i][j][k] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
cout << endl;
}

return 0;
}
Run Code >>
Output
1st layer:
345
456
567

2st layer:
456
567
678

3st layer:
567
678
789
Advantages of an Array in C++
 Efficient memory usage: Arrays in C++ use contiguous memory
locations to store the elements, thus making it efficient to allocate
and access data.
 Easy access to elements: Elements in an array can be accessed
using their index, making it easy to retrieve specific data from the
array.
 Better performance: Accessing elements in an array using
an index is faster than using other data structures like linked
lists or trees. This is because the index provides direct access to the
memory location where the element is stored.
 Flexibility: Arrays in C++ can be used to store different types of data,
including integers, characters, and strings.
 Easy to implement algorithms: Many algorithms in computer
science use arrays, making it easy to implement these algorithms in
C++.
 Compatible with other data structures: Arrays can be used in
conjunction with other data structures in C++, such

7
as stacks and queues, to implement complex data structures and
algorithms.
 Easy to pass to functions: Arrays can be easily passed as arguments
to functions in C++, making it easy to manipulate large amounts of
data efficiently.
Disadvantages of an Array in C++
 Fixed-size: Arrays in C++ have a fixed size determined at the time of
declaration. There is no dynamic increase in the size of an array.
 Memory allocation: Arrays in C++ are allocated in contiguous
memory blocks. If the array is very large, there may not be enough
contiguous memory available for allocation.
 No bounds checking: C++ does not perform any bounds checking on
arrays, so it is possible to access memory outside of the bounds of the
array. This can lead to segmentation faults or other memory-related
errors.
 Limited flexibility: Arrays in C++ have limited flexibility due to fixed
size and dimensions. This makes it difficult to implement certain
algorithms and data structures that require dynamic resizing and
manipulation.
 Inefficient for insertion and deletion: Inserting or deleting
elements from an array in C++ can be inefficient, as it requires shifting
all the elements after the insertion or deletion point to make room or
fill in the gap. This can be time-consuming, especially for large arrays.
Summary
The array in C++ is a useful data structure for representing a sequence of
elements. By using an array, you can easily store and access data in a
structurally consistent way. It is very important to understand how an array
works in C++ to use it to its full potential. This will help make your code
more efficient and improve your skills as a programmer.