Array

/əˈreɪ/

nounIntermediateVery CommonTechnology

Definitions

1

A collection of elements of the same data type, stored contiguously in memory and accessed using an index.

/əˈreɪ/

nounneutralIntermediate
Technology

A linear data structure

The array held 100 integers.

💡 Simply: An ordered list of things.

More Examples

2

We need to initialize the array before using it.

How It's Used

Computer Science

"The program sorts the array of numbers in ascending order."

Mathematics

"The array represents a matrix of values."

From Middle French *arey, from Late Latin *arrēium, from Latin arrā, 'a thing'

The word 'array' has evolved from its military context (meaning arrangement or order) to its current predominant use in computer science.

Memory tip

Think of it like a row of soldiers, each with a specific position.

arreyaray

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written