Multidimensional Arrays in C programming

Multidimensional arrays definition

Arrays in C can have multiple subscripts. A common use of multiple-subscripted arrays, which the C standard refers to as multidimensional arrays, is to represent tables of values consisting of information arranged in rows and columns.

To identify a particular table element, we must specify two subscripts:

• The first (by convention) identifies the element’s row.
• The second (by convention) identifies the element’s column.

Tables or arrays that require two subscripts to identify a particular element are called double-subscripted arrays. Multidimensional arrays can have more than two subscripts.

Array with three rows and four columns, so it’s said to be a 3-by-4 array.

In general, an array with m rows and n columns is called an m-by-n array.

Defining multidimensional array

A multidimensional array can be initialized when it’s defined, much like a single-subscripted array.

Defining a double-subscripted array int b[2][2]:

    int b[ 2 ][ 2 ] = { { 1, 2 }, { 3, 4 } };

Initializing multidimensional arrays.

The program defines three arrays of two rows and three columns (six elements each).

• The definition of array1 provides six initializers in two sublists.
• The definition of array2 provides five initializers.
• The definition of array3 provides three initializers in two sublists.

Note: Uninitialized elements are assigned the value 0.

   
    // Initializing multidimensional arrays.
    #include <stdio.h>
    void printArray( int a[][ 3 ] ); // function prototype
    
    // function main begins program execution
    int main( void ) {
    
    // initialize array1, array2, array3
    int array1[ 2 ][ 3 ] = { { 1, 2, 3 }, { 4, 5, 6 } };
    int array2[ 2 ][ 3 ] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };           
    int array3[ 2 ][ 3 ] = { { 1, 2 }, { 4 } };            
    puts( "Values in array1 by row are:" );
    printArray( array1 );
    puts( "Values in array2 by row are:" );
    printArray( array2 );
    puts( "Values in array3 by row are:" );
    printArray( array3 );
    } // end main
    
    // function to output array with two rows and three columns
    void printArray( int a[][ 3 ] ) {    
    size_t i; // row counter 
    size_t j; // column counter
 
    // loop through rows  
    for ( i = 0; i <= 1; ++i ) {
    
    // output column values   
      for ( j = 0; j <= 2; ++j ) {
         printf( "%d ", a[ i ][ j ] );
      } // end inner for      
          
      printf( "\n" ); // start new line of output  
      } // end outer for   
    } // end function printArray   

    Output:
    Values in array1 by row are:
    1 2 3
    4 5 6
    
    Values in array2 by row are:
    1 2 3
    4 5 0
    
    Values in array3 by row are:
    1 2 0
    4 0 0