1. array element types can be anything, even other arrays

   1. multi-dimensional arrays, vectors, matrices, multiply-subscripted arrays

   2. each dimension has a size

   3. for example, a 2-dimensional n x m array is a

2. declarations

   1. a semi-special syntax - int m[3][3]

   2. a minimum of 12 dimensions

3. accessing

   1. a sequence of square brackets - m[i][j]

   2. don't slip and use one bracket - m[i, j] works, probably wrong

4. initialization

   1. remember the vector of vectors

   2. a full initialization list

      1. int a[2][3] = { { 1,2,3 },{ 4,5,6} }

   3. row initializer lists can be partial - zero fill

      1. int a[2][3] = { { 1 },{ 4,5 } }

   4. row initializer lists can missing - more zero fill

      1. int a[2][3] = { { 1,1,1 } }

   5. element-by-element initialization

      1. int a[2][3] = { 1,2,3 }

      2. elements initialized in memory-layout order; zero fill

   6. element-by-element and row-by-row can't be mixed in the same initializer list

5. function parameter declarations

   1. array parameters don't need sizes - not quite

   2. only the first dimension doesn't need a size; the rest do

   3. example - int f(int a[][3], int a_size) { . . . }

   4. the size is still not part of the array; the compiler doesn't check

      1. int a[5][5]; f(a); compiles, doesn't work

This page last modified on 25 June 2001.