The details of an array are accessed about its position. This reference is called index or subscript. In this Array Data Structure tutorial you will learn,
What is Array in Data Structure? Concept of Array Why do we need arrays? Creating an Array in Python Ways to Declare an Array in Python Array Operations Creating an Array in C++ Array Operations in C++ Array Operations in Java
Concept of Array
The above diagram illustrates that:
An array is a container of elements. Elements have a specific value and data type, like “ABC”, TRUE or FALSE, etc. Each element also has its own index, which is used to access the element.
Note:
Elements are stored at contiguous memory locations. An index is always less than the total number of array items. In terms of syntax, any variable that is declared as an array can store multiple values. Almost all languages have the same comprehension of arrays but have different ways of declaring and initializing them. However, three parts will always remain common in all the initializations, i.e., array name, elements, and the data type of elements.
The following diagram illustrates the syntax of declaring an array in Python and C++ to present that the comprehension remains the same though the syntax may slightly vary in different languages.
Array name: necessary for easy reference to the collection of elements Data Type: necessary for type checking and data integrity Elements: these are the data values present in an array
Why do we need arrays?
Here, are some reasons for using arrays in data structure:
Arrays are best for storing multiple values in a single variable Arrays are better at processing many values easily and quickly Sorting and searching the values is easier in arrays
Creating an Array in Python
In Python, arrays are different from lists; lists can have array items of data types, whereas arrays can only have items of the same data type. Python has a separate module for handling arrays called array, which you need to import before you start working on them. Note: The array must contain real numbers like integers and floats, no strings allowed. The following code illustrates how you can create an integer array in python to store account balance:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) print(balance)
Ways to Declare an Array in Python
You can declare an array in Python while initializing it using the following syntax.
arrayName = array.array(type code for data type, [array,items])
The following image explains the syntax.
Identifier: specify a name like usually, you do for variables Module: Python has a special module for creating arrays, called “array” – you must import it before using it Method: the array module has a method for initializing the array. It takes two arguments, typecode, and elements. Type Code: specify the data type using the typecodes available (see list below) Elements: specify the array elements within the square brackets, for example [130,450,103]
The following table illustrates the typecodes available for supported data types:
How to access a specific array value?
You can access any array item by using its index. Syntax
arrayName[indexNum]
Example:
balance[1]
The following image illustrates the basic concept of accessing arrays items by their index.
Here, we have accessed the second value of the array using its index, which is 1. The output of this will be 200, which is basically the second value of the balanced array.
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) print(balance[1])
OUTPUT
200
Array Operations
The array module of Python has separate functions for performing array operations. This is a destructive method of operating with arrays, which means the modification will be saved in the array variable.
Insert
With this operation, you can insert one or more items into an array at the beginning, end, or any given index of the array. This method expects two arguments index and value. Syntax
arrayName.insert(index, value)
Example: Let’s add a new value right after the second item of the array. Currently, our balance array has three items 300, 200, and 100. So what’s the index of the second array item with a value of 200 if you said 1. In order to insert the new value right “after” index 1, you need to reference index 2 in your insert method, like this:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) balance.insert(2, 150)
Now, to verify if the new value has been inserted, enter the array name and press Enter on the keyboard:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) balance.insert(2, 150) print(balance)
OUTPUT
array(‘i’, [300,200,150,100])
Delete
With this operation, you can delete one item from an array by value. This method accepts only one argument, value. After running this method, the array items are re-arranged, and indices are re-assigned. Syntax
arrayName.remove(value)
Example: Let’s remove the value of 150 from the array. Currently, our balance array has four items 300, 200, 150, and 100. So, in order to remove 150 from the array, we only have to type 150 inside the method argument. Simple, right?
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) balance.insert(2, 150) print(balance) balance.remove(150)
Now, to verify if the value has been deleted, enter the array name and press Enter on the keyboard:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) balance.insert(2, 150) print(balance) balance.remove(150) print(balance)
OUTPUT
array(‘i’, [300,200,100])
SEARCH
With this operation, you can search for an item in an array based on its value. This method accepts only one argument, value. This is a non-destructive method, which means it does not affect the array values. Syntax
arrayName.index(value)
Example: Let’s search for the value of 150 in the array. Currently, our balance array has four items 300, 200, 150, and 100. So, in order to search 150 in the array, we only have to type 150 inside the method argument. That’s quite easy. This method returns the index of the searched value.
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,150,100]) print(balance.index(150))
OUTPUT
2
UPDATE
This operation is quite similar to the insert method, except that it will replace the existing value at the given index. This means will simply assign a new value at the given index. This method expects two arguments index and value. Syntax
arrayName.udpate(index, value)
Example: Assume that our array has four items 300, 200, 150, and 100, and we want to replace 150 with 145. So what’s the index 150? Kudos, if you said 2. In order to replace 150 that has index 2, you need to reference index 2 by using simple assignment operator, like this one:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,150,100]) balance[2] = 145
Now, to verify if the value has been updated, enter the array name and press Enter on the keyboard:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,150,100]) balance[2] = 145 print(balance)
OUTPUT
array(‘i’, [300,200,145,100])
Traverse
You can traverse a python array by using loops, like this one:
import array balance = array.array(‘i’, [300,200,100]) for x in balance: print(x)
OUTPUT
300 200 100
Creating an Array in C++
C++ language is more flexible than Python when it comes to creating arrays. You can create C++ arrays in three ways mentioned ahead. The following code illustrates how you can create an integer array in C++ to store account balance:
#include
int main() { int balance[3] = { 300, 200, 100 }; for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) { cout « “value of i: " « balance[i] « endl; } return 0; }
Ways to Declare an Array in C++
You can declare an array in three syntax variants. Which one suits your program; this choice is based on your program requirements. Declaration by Size Syntax
dataType arrayName[arraySize];
Example:
int balance[3];
Declaration Initialization Array Items Only Syntax
dataType arrayName[] = {array, items};
Example:
int balance[] = { 300, 200, 100 };
Declaration by Size and Initialization Array Items Syntax
dataType arrayName[arraySize] = {array, items};
Example:
int balance[3] = { 300, 200, 100 };
How to access a specific array value?
You can access any array item by using its index. Syntax
arrayName[indexNum]
Example:
balance[1]
The following image illustrates the basic concept of accessing arrays items by their index.
Here, we have accessed the second value of the array using its index, which is 1. The output of this will be 200, which is basically the second value of the balance array.
#include
int main() { int balance[3] = { 300, 200, 100 }; cout « balance[1];
return 0; }
Output
200
Array Operations in C++
Unlike Python, in C++ you have to program the logic yourself for performing the insert, delete, search update and traverse operations on C++ arrays.
Insert
The logic for insertion operation goes as follows:
loop through the array items shift them to a greater index add a new array item at a given index
In the following example, we have 5 items in the balance array, and we want to add a new item just after the value of 200. This means we have to shift all the items after 200 to a greater index, and then insert our new value of 150.
#include
main() { int pos = 2; int size = 4; int balance[] = {300,200,100,50,0};
printf(“BEFORE INCREMENT: \n”); for(int i = 0; i<5; i++) { printf("%d\n”,balance[i]); }
/* FOR SHIFTING ITEMS TO A GREATER INDEX */ for(int i = size; i >= pos; i–) { balance[i+1]=balance[i]; }
/* FOR INSERTING VALUE AT OUR DESIRED INDEX */
balance[pos] = 150;
printf(“AFTER INCREMENT: \n”);
/* FOR PRINTING THE NEW ARRAY */
for(int i = 0; i<6; i++) {
printf("%d\n",balance[i]);
}
}
Output
BEFORE INCREMENT 300 200 100 50 0 AFTERINCREMENT 300 200 150 100 50 0
Array Operations in Java
Lets create a programming in Java, in this array program in Java we will accept the size and the value of the array elements from the user.
import java.util.Scanner;
public class AddElements { public static void main(String[] args) { Scanner sc=new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.println("Enter the size of the array");
int n=sc.nextInt();
int arr[]=new int[n];
System.out.println("Enter Elements in the array");
for(int i=0;i<n;i++)
{
arr[i]=sc.nextInt();
}
System.out.println("Elements in the array");
for(int j=0;j<n;j++)
{
System.out.print(arr[j]+" ");
}
}
}
Output:-
Enter the size of the array
5 Enter Elements in the array
1 2 3 4 5 Elements in the array 1 2 3 4 5
Modify Element in Array:-
Update an element by the given index. Program in Java for how to Modify elements in an array
import java.util.Scanner;
public class ModifyElement { public static void main(String[] args) { int arr[]={1,2,3,4,5}; int length= arr.length; Scanner sc=new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.println("Array Elements Before modify");
for(int i=0;i<length;i++)
{
System.out.print(arr[i]+" ");
}
System.out.println("\nEnter the position where you want to change in an array");
int pos=sc.nextInt();
System.out.println("Enter the value");
int val=sc.nextInt();
arr[pos]=val;
System.out.println("Array Elements After modify");
for(int j=0;j<length;j++)
{
System.out.print(arr[j]+" ");
}
}
}
Output:-
Array Elements Before modify 1 2 3 4 5 Enter the position where you want to change in an array
2 Enter the value 8 Array Elements After modify 1 2 8 4 5
Access Element in Array:-
Print all array elements. Program in Java for how to Traverse in array
public class AccessElements { public static void main(String[] args) { int arr[]={1,2,3,4,5}; int length= arr.length;
System.out.println("Array Elements are:-");
for(int i=0;i<length;i++)
{
System.out.print(arr[i]+" ");
}
}
}
Output:-
Array Elements are:- 1 2 3 4 5
Summary:
An array is a data structure for storing multiple data items that have a similar data type Identifier, data type, array length, elements, and index are the major parts of an array Use the index for processing the values of array elements Arrays have excellent support for keeping data-type intact In most languages, an array is created by specifying an identifier, data type, and elements to include Arrays are best for processing a large number of values, and for quick sorting and searching Python has modules and built-in methods to perform basic array operations like insert, delete, search, update and traverse C++ needs defining programs for basic array operations like insert, delete, search update and traverse
