Arrays

• Some definitions
  • A simple (or atomic) data type is one where the value is indivisible.
    • Examples are ints, floats, char.
    • What about strings?
  • A structured data type is one in which each value is a collection of components and whose organization is characterized by the method used to access individual components. The allowable operations on a structured data type include the storage and retrieval of individual components.
    • Arrays, structures, unions and classes are examples.
    • What about strings?
• An array is a structured data type characterized by
  • homogeneous data
  • random access
• An array is employed when you want to have a large number of the same type of data, generally addressed by the same name.
• Declare Arrays
• Accessing individual components of an array
• Terms : bounds, index
• Error: Out of bounds error
• Auto Initialization:

  int numbers[] = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9};
     

• Aggregate operations

  int x [50];
  int y[50];
  
  x = y;    // is not a valid operation
  if (x == y ) {   //is not a valid operation
  }
  
  cout << x << endl;   // is not a valid operation
  
  return x;
  

• Passing arrays
  • Arrays are passed by reference only.