Arrays are a basic way to organize and store data. They have some important traits that make them different from other types of data structures, like lists, stacks, and queues.
Here are the key features of arrays:
Fixed Size: When you create an array, you need to decide how many items it will hold. For example, if you create an array that can hold 5 items, it can only hold 5 items.
Direct Access: You can quickly find any item in an array by using its index, which is like a number. For example, if you want the third item in an array called arr, you would write arr[2] because counting starts at 0!
Same Type of Data: Arrays usually keep items that are all the same type. This means they can hold either all numbers or all words. This makes it easier and faster to work with them.
Memory Use: Arrays work by using a single block of memory. This makes it faster to access the items inside them compared to other data structures that might need more steps to find items, like linked lists.
Because of these features, arrays are great for times when you need speed and consistency. This is especially true in math calculations or when you want to store simple data.
Arrays are a basic way to organize and store data. They have some important traits that make them different from other types of data structures, like lists, stacks, and queues.
Here are the key features of arrays:
Fixed Size: When you create an array, you need to decide how many items it will hold. For example, if you create an array that can hold 5 items, it can only hold 5 items.
Direct Access: You can quickly find any item in an array by using its index, which is like a number. For example, if you want the third item in an array called arr, you would write arr[2] because counting starts at 0!
Same Type of Data: Arrays usually keep items that are all the same type. This means they can hold either all numbers or all words. This makes it easier and faster to work with them.
Memory Use: Arrays work by using a single block of memory. This makes it faster to access the items inside them compared to other data structures that might need more steps to find items, like linked lists.
Because of these features, arrays are great for times when you need speed and consistency. This is especially true in math calculations or when you want to store simple data.