Types of Arrays

An array is a collection of elements of the same type stored in a single variable. It allows you to access each element using an index. Arrays make it easy to store and manage multiple values together.

On the basis of Size:

1. Fixed Sized Arrays:

• The size of a fixed-size array cannot be changed after creation.
• Memory is allocated only for the size mentioned in square brackets [].
• Declaring a larger size than needed wastes memory.
• Declaring a smaller size than needed is not enough to store all elements.
• Fixed-size arrays are not preferred when the number of elements is unknown.

Array elements are: 1 2 3 4 5 

2. Dynamic Sized Arrays:

• The size of a dynamic array can change during program execution.
• Elements can be added or removed as needed.
• Memory is allocated and de-allocated automatically.
• Don’t need to worry about the array size in advance.
• Dynamic arrays are flexible and useful when the number of elements is unknown.

Array elements are: 10 20 30 
After removing last element: 10 20 

Note: In C, there is no built-in dynamic array like in other languages, but you can create one using pointers and malloc/realloc.

On the basis of Dimensions

1. One-dimensional Array :

• A 1-D array is a single row of elements stored in a sequence under one name.
• Each element can be accessed using an index starting from 0.
• It is used to store multiple values of the same type in a linear manner.

1 2 3 4 5 

2. Two-dimensional (2D) array:

• A 2-D array is like a table or grid with rows and columns.
• Each element is accessed using two indices: one for the row and one for the column.
• It is used to store multiple values of the same type in a matrix-like structure.

1 2 3 
4 5 6 

3. Three-dimensional array:

• A 3-D array is like a stack of 2-D arrays, forming rows, columns, and layers.
• Each element is accessed using three indices: for layer, row, and column.
• It is used to store multiple values of the same type in a 3-dimensional structure. 

1 2 3 
4 5 6 

7 8 9 
10 11 12