what can we put in an array

[density]

Hello,

Is it possible to have an array where each position of the array is an array?

Thanks!

[Computergeek01]

You could look at a multidimensional array that way.

[Duthomhas]

Yes. That's called a two-dimensional array.

There are two ways to do it:

(1) multidimensional array syntactical sugar

int a[ 5 ][ 3 ];

Sometimes, typedefs make life easier, but less direct:

typedef int element;
typedef element row[ 3 ];
typedef row table[ 5 ];
table data;

Read more about MD arrays here:
http://www.cplusplus.com/faq/sequences/#what-is-a-md-array

(2) An array of pointers to arrays.

int* a[ 5 ]; // a normal array of pointers to...
for (unsigned n = 0; n < 5; n++)
  a[ n ] = new int[ 3 ];  // ...a dynamic array of integers 

Or:

int** a;  // a dynamic pointer to one or more pointers to pointers
a = new (int*)[ 5 ];  // a dynamic array of pointers to...
for (unsigned n = 0; n < 5; n++)
  a[ n ] = new int[ 3 ];  // ...a dynamic array of integers 

(Don't forget to delete stuff when you are done with it.)

All this pointer stuff is a major headache, but useful when handling dynamic data. Like, for example, the lines of a text file. Or database records. Etc. (The reason is, of course, that it is dynamic, meaning that it is not fixed in size like in (1).)

Hope this helps.