Multi-Dimensional Arrays

14

Introduction to Programming
 Two-Dimensional Arrays
In general, an array with m rows and n columns
is called an m x n array (m by n array).

int array[3][4];
col 0 col 1 col 2 col 3

row 0 a[0][0] a[0][1] a[0][2] a[0][3]

row 1 a[1][0] a[1][1] a[1][2] a[1][3]
row 2 a[2][0] a[2][1] a[2][2] a[2][3]

Introduction to Programming
 Two-Dimensional Arrays
• The first and second indeces signify the
row and the column of the element in
the array respectively.
• Physically (in main memory), elements
are allocated and placed consecutively
(row-wise), just like one-dimensional
arrays.
int array[2][2];

a[0][0] a[0][1] a[1][0] a[1][1]

Introduction to Programming
 Declaration
• Declaration
– size or number of elements should be
specified before compilation.
– only integer literals and preprocessor
constants are allowed.
#define ROW 10
#define COL 5
...
int array[5][10];
double d[ROW][COL];
...
Introduction to Programming
 Initialization

• Initialization
#define ROW 4
#define COL 3
...
int array[2][2] = { {0,1},{2,3} };
int array1[2][2] = {0,1,2,3};
double array2[ROW][COL] = {0};
float array3[2][COL] = { {2},{3,4} };
...

Introduction to Programming
 Accessing Elements

• Rules on one-dimensional arrays still

apply.
• Indeces should be from 0 to N-1 for all N
dimension sizes.

int array[2][3];

array[2][3] = 3; /* epic fail! */

array[1][3] = 78; /* fail! */
array[1][2] = 99; /* last-element win! */

Introduction to Programming
 An Important Note

• What you have to understand is that

given an array declaration of
int arr[2][3];
arr[0] is a one-dimensional array of ints
and that arr[0][0] is an int.
• This concept extends to N dimensions.

Introduction to Programming
 Array of Strings

• Remember that a string is just an array

of chars terminated by '\0'.
• Hence, an array of strings is just a two-
dimensional array of chars.

Introduction to Programming
 Example – 1/2

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

/* number of strings */
#define STRINGS 4

/* max number of chars per string */

#define MAX_CH 100

Introduction to Programming
 Example – 2/2
int main()
{
char strings[STRINGS][MAX_CH]
= {“Ako”,
”si”,
”Wilmarc”,
”Lopez!”};

strcmp(strings[0], strings[1]);
strcat(strings[2], strings[3]);

return 0;
}

Introduction to Programming
 Multi-Dimensional Arrays
• All of the discussed rules apply for N-
dimensional arrays.
int three_d[2][2][2] = { {{1,2},{3,4}},
{{5,6},{7,8}} };

float four_d[2][3][4][5];
int i,j,k,l;
for (i=0; i<2; i++)
for (j=0; j<3; j++)
for (k=0; k<4; k++)
for (l=0; l<5; l++)
four_d[i][j][k][l] = i*j*k*l;

Introduction to Programming
 Arrays to Functions
• One-dimensional Arrays – size is not
required, hence, all array sizes will work.
void funxn( int array[], int size );
void funxn2( int array[SIZE] );

• N-dimensional Arrays – only the size of

the left-most dimension, wrt brackets, is
optional. The rest is compulsary.
void funxn_2d( int array[][COL], int row);
void funxn_3d( char array2[][5][5], int n );

Introduction to Programming
 Arrays to Functions

• Note that by NOT specifying the size of

the leftmost dimension, the compiler
will let you pass arrays of any size on
that dimension (i.e. the leftmost one).
• If a function deals with an array of a
specific size, then specifying the size is
best. Why?

Introduction to Programming