Arrays are fundamental data structures in programming, allowing you to store and manipulate collections of elements. Here's a quick guide to understanding arrays:
What is an Array? 💡
An array is a ordered collection of elements, all of the same type, stored in contiguous memory locations. Each element can be accessed via an index (starting at 0).
Key Features:
- Fixed size (predefined capacity)
- Homogeneous elements (same data type)
- Index-based access (e.g.,
array[2])
How Arrays Work 🧠
Example in JavaScript:
let fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"];
console.log(fruits[0]); // Output: "apple"
Common Operations 🔄
- Accessing elements:
array[index] - Updating elements:
array[index] = newValue - Looping through elements:
for (let i = 0; i < array.length; i++) { console.log(array[i]); } - Finding length:
array.length
Applications of Arrays 🌐
Arrays are used in:
- Storing lists of data (e.g., user inputs)
- Implementing other data structures (e.g., stacks, queues)
- Performing mathematical operations (e.g., matrices)
Explore more about data structures