Multidimensional Arrays - CSharp Language Basics

CSharp examples for Language Basics:Array

  1. HOME
  2. CSharp
  3. Language Basics
  4. Array

Introduction

Multidimensional arrays come in two varieties: rectangular and jagged.

Rectangular arrays represent an n-dimensional block of memory, and jagged arrays are arrays of arrays.

Rectangular arrays

Rectangular arrays are declared using commas to separate each dimension.

The following declares a rectangular two-dimensional array, where the dimensions are 3 x 3: 

int[,] matrix = new int[3,3];

The GetLength method of an array returns the length for a given dimension (starting at 0): 

for (int i = 0; i < matrix.GetLength(0); i++)
  for (int j = 0; j < matrix.GetLength(1); j++)
    matrix[i,j] = i * 3 + j;

A rectangular array can be initialized as follows: 

int[,] matrix = new int[,]
{
  {0,1,2},
  {3,4,5},
  {6,7,8}
};

Jagged arrays

Jagged arrays are declared using successive square brackets to represent each dimension.

Here is an example of declaring a jagged two-dimensional array, where the outermost dimension is 3: 

int[][] matrix = new int[3][];

Each inner array must be created manually: 

for (int i = 0; i < matrix.Length; i++)
{
  matrix[i] = new int[3];                    // Create inner array
  for (int j = 0; j < matrix[i].Length; j++)
    matrix[i][j] = i * 3 + j;
}

A jagged array can be initialized as follows 

int[][] matrix = new int[][]
{
  new int[] {0,1,2},
  new int[] {3,4,5},
  new int[] {6,7,8,9}
};

Related Tutorials