C# - Arrays

Introduction

If we create a variable of type int also assign 10 as value in it. If we want to store more than one value in it then its not possible. That why array comes to the picture, If you want to store similar type and more then one value into it then should take array.

Array Definition 

"An array is a collection of similar data type or you can say a single variable hold multiple other variables, those variable known as label of array. Lets take an simple example, suppose you have two things, which are ball and bat and you want to store it, use a box. Put the both things in separate boxes, also with label. Here 'array' is a box and label is 'variable name'.

Basically array consists of two things first one is index and second one is value, If you want to access specific value in an array, use index. When we insert items into an array, default index started from 0. You can insert items randomly at any index position. Lets take an example for clarification that how to insert item into an array. Before learn this example, first should take array declaration.

Syntax of declaring array

datatype [] identifier;

where, you can use any data type to declare an array like int , float, double, string etc. This bracket [] known as rank of the array, its doesn't take decimal type value , always take integer. The value in the rank known as size of the array. Suppose i take 10 in the rank, then array index start from 0 to 9. Here 0 is the starting index and 9 is the last index. All arrays value consists of contiguous memory locations. The lowest address corresponds to the first element and the highest address to the last element.

Lets more about an array that is how to initialize array variable. 

Array initialization means you can assign some values in to the array. 

Before initialization, should take new keyword for create instance of the array because array is a reference type. For example

int[] employee_age = new int[10];

In above mentioned example array hold 10 elements, means size of the array is 10. If you want to assign value in it, you can use index number. Like

employee_age[0] = 20;

employee_age[1] = 40;

Also You can assign values to the array at the time of declaration, like:

int [] employee_age = {20,21,22,23,24};
You can also create and initialize an array, like:
int [] employee_age = new int[5]  {20,21,22,23,24};
In the preceding example you can change the size of element, directly you can say re-sizing of an array. Also you can copy one array to another array in c#. In that case both array would locate to same memory location. like takes an simple example

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace ConsoleApplication4
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            int[] employee_age = new int[5]{20,21,22,23,24};
            int[] second_array = employee_age;
            int i = 0;
            foreach (var item in second_array)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("arrays elements are[{0}]={1}",i,item);
                i++;
            }
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

Code generate the following output

Above mentioned example covers declaring of an array, initialization of array and how to access array element in c#.

In c#, when we create a new array in the memory then compiler automatically initialize all index value with 0. Take a look.

 using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace ConsoleApplication4
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            int[] employee_age = new int[5];
            int[] second_array = employee_age;
            int i = 0;
            foreach (var item in second_array)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("arrays elements are[{0}]={1}",i,item);
                i++;
            }
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

Code generate the following output