An array is a collection of elements or values of the same data type that are stored in contiguous memory locations and can be accessed using a single variable name. It is one of the most fundamental and widely used data structures in computer science.
In an array, each element is identified by an index or a subscript, which starts from 0 in most programming languages. The index is used to access the individual elements of the array. Arrays can be one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or multi-dimensional, depending on the number of indices needed to access the elements.
One of the main advantages of arrays is their efficiency in accessing and manipulating data. Since the elements are stored in contiguous memory locations, accessing an element involves a simple arithmetic calculation to determine its memory address. This allows for fast access and manipulation of the data, making arrays ideal for applications that require frequent and rapid data access.
Arrays can be initialized with default values or with values specified by the programmer. They can also be resized dynamically in some programming languages, although this can be inefficient in terms of memory usage and performance.
Arrays can be used to implement other data structures, such as stacks, queues, and matrices. They are also commonly used for sorting and searching algorithms, as well as for storing and manipulating large amounts of data in scientific and engineering applications.