Arrays in C

Arrays in C

The arrays in the C language are generally defined as the collection of similar type of data items that are stored at contiguous memory locations. The arrays are basically the obtained data type in the C programming language that can store the primitive type of data like: int, double, float, char, etc. The arrays in C also possess the capability of storing the collection of derived data types like: structure, pointers, etc. In the arrays in C, each data element can be accessed randomly by the use of its index number and the arrays are known to be the simplest data structure.

If the users have to store similar elements then in this case C arrays are proven to be most beneficial. For instance; let's take a case where a user want to store the marks of a student in 8 subjects then in this case the user don't need to define different variables for the marks in different subjects. Despite of doing that, the user can define an array that can store the marks in each subject at the contiguous memory locations.

The elements can be accessed easily by the use of arrays just by a few lines of code the users can access elements of the array.

Let's have a look at the properties of Arrays in C

Here are the properties contained in the arrays are listed below:

• Each and every element of an array is basically of the same data type and carries the same size as of the other arrays, for instance: int = 8 bytes.
• The storage of the elements in arrays are generally at a contiguous memory location and the same location the first element is stored at the smallest memory location.
• Since the users can calculate the address of each and every element of the arrays provided the base address and the size of the data element, this enables the random accessibility of the elements of the array.

Let's have a look at the advantage of the C Arrays:

• Random Access : Any element can be accessed randomly by the users using the array.
• Code Optimization : Minimum amount of code is required to access the data.
• Ease of sorting : A few lines of code are needed to sort the elements of the array.
• Ease of traversing : The elements of an array can be retrieved very easily, just by using the for loop.

Here is the disadvantage of the C Array

• Fixed Size : At the time of declaration of the array, despite the size entered users can't exceed the limit. Hence, the arrays doesn't enhance their size dynamically such as: LinkedList.

Let's understand the declaration of the C Array

Here is the syntax by which the users can declare an array in the c language:

 data_type array_name[array_size];  

Examle of array declaration

int SubjectMarks[4];

Let's understand the initialization of C Array

The use of each element’s index is known to be the simplest way to initialize an array in the C language. Users can initialize each element of the array just by using the index.

//array initialization
SubjectMarks[0]=60;  
SubjectMarks[1]=70;  
SubjectMarks[2]=80;  
SubjectMarks[3]=95;  

Array Example

#include<stdio.h>  
int main()
{      
int i=0;    
//array declaration 
int SubjectMarks[4];
//array initialization      
SubjectMarks[0]=60;  
SubjectMarks[1]=70;  
SubjectMarks[2]=80;  
SubjectMarks[3]=95;  
//Display all Subject marks
for(i=0;i<4;i++)
{      
	printf("%d ",SubjectMarks[i]);    
}
return 0;  
}   

Declaration of the C arrays with Initialization

The C array can be initialized at the time of declaration, here is the code:

int SubjectMarks[4]={10,20,56,98}

In the above mentioned type of cases, there is no need to define the size hence, it can also be written as the code given below:

int SubjectMarks[]={10,20,56,98}

Let's understand declaration and Initialization of Array using an example

#include<stdio.h>  
int main()
{      
int i=0;    
//array initialization      
int SubjectMarks[4]={60,70,80,95};  

//Display all Subject marks
for(i=0;i<4;i++)
{      
	printf("%d ",SubjectMarks[i]);    
}
return 0;  
}   

Example 2(sum of an Array)

#include<stdio.h>  
int main()
{      
int i=0;    
int num[5]={10,20,30,40,50};  
int sum=0;

for(i=0;i<4;i++)
{      
sum=sum+num[i];    
}
printf("Sum=%d ",sum);
return 0;  
}   

Example 3(sum of even and odd of an Array)

#include<stdio.h>  
int main()
{      
int i=0;    
int num[6]={10,11,12,13,14,15};  
int even=0;
int odd=0;

for(i=0;i<6;i++)
{      
	if(num[i]%2==0)
	{
	even=even+num[i];    
	}
	else 
	{
	odd=odd+num[i];
	} 
}
printf("Sum of even=%d \n",even);
printf("Sum of odd=%d",odd);
return 0;  
}