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How to use multidimensional Arrays in C / C++

In the previous tutorial, we learned about one-dimensional arrays in C / C++. In this tutorial, we will learn about multidimensional arrays in C/C++.

More specifically, we will learn about the structure, declaration and initialization of multidimensional arrays. So, make sure you learn about one-dimensional arrays first.

Multidimensional arrays are used to store data of the same type. Data in multidimensional arrays are stored in row-major order. It consists of rows and columns, depending on what we declare.

In this tutorial, we only learn about two types of multidimensional arrays:

  • Two-dimensional arrays in C/C++.
  • Three-dimensional arrays in C/C++.

Now let's get started with us !!!

Declare multidimensional array in C / C++

General syntax for declaring multidimensional arrays in C / C++:

data_type array_name[size1][size2]....[sizeN];

Here,

  • data_type: This is the data type of the elements that the multidimensional array can store.
  • array_name: This is the name of the multidimensional array, it is used to call the multidimensional array later.
  • [size1] [size2]....[sizeN]: This is the size of the array, determined by the number of rows and columns that we declare.

mul arrays 0 1 PNG

Example 1: Declare a two-dimensional array in C / C++.

int two_d[10][20];

Example 2: Declare a three-dimensional array in C / C++.

int three_d[10][20][30];

Size of Multidimensional Arrays:

The size of a multidimensional array is calculated by multiplying the dimensions of the row and column.

Example 3: The size of the two-dimensional array.

The array int number[3][4] can store up to 3 * 4 = 12 (elements).

Example 4: The size of the three-dimensional array.

The array int number[3][4][5] can store up to 3 * 4 * 5 = 60 (elements).

Initialize multidimensional arrays in C / C++

Here, we will learn about how to initialize two-dimensional arrays and three-dimensional arrays.

Initialize a two-dimensional array

Suppose we want to declare a two-dimensional array consisting of elements {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, as shown below:

mul arrays 0 2 PNG

Then we have the following ways to initialize.

Method 1:

int number[2][3] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};

For this method, it is not optimal. Take a look at the second method.

Method 2:

int number[2][3] = {{1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6}};

Initialize a three-dimensional array

Similar to how to initialize a two-dimensional array, we have an example of three-dimensional array initialization as follows:

Example: Initialize a multidimensional array consisting of elements {3, 4, 2, 3, 0, -3, 9, 11, 23, 12, 23, 2, 13, 4, 56, 3, 5, 9, 3, 5, 5, 1, 4, 9}.

Method 1:

int test[2][3][4] = {3, 4, 2, 3, 0, -3, 9, 11, 23, 12, 23, 2, 13, 4, 56, 3, 5, 9, 3, 5, 5, 1, 4, 9};

Method 2:

int test[2][3][4] = { 
                     { {3, 4, 2, 3}, {0, -3, 9, 11}, {23, 12, 23, 2} },
                     { {13, 4, 56, 3}, {5, 9, 3, 5}, {5, 1, 4, 9} }
};

Import and export elements in a multidimensional array in C / C++

Here, we take the program that imports and exports the elements in a two-dimensional array as an example. Other types of multidimensional arrays are done similarly.

Example: Use the rand() function to enter random elements in a two-dimensional array. Then display the elements to the screen.

#include <iostream>  
using namespace std;  
#define ROW 100
#define COL 100
void ImportMulArrays(int mt[][COL], int &m, int &n)
{
    srand(time(NULL));
 
    cout << "Enter row number m: ";
    cin >> m;
    cout << "Enter col number n: ";
    cin >> n;
 
    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        {
            mt[i][j] = rand() % 100;
        }
    }
}
 
void ExportMulArrays(int mt[][COL], int m, int n)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        {
            cout << mt[i][j] << "\t";
        }
        cout << endl;
    }
}
int main()  
{  
  int mt[ROW][COL];
  int nRow, nCol;
  ImportMulArrays(mt, nRow, nCol);
  ExportMulArrays(mt, nRow, nCol);
 
  cout<<"\n--------------------------------\n";
  cout<<"This program is posted at learnnc.com";
  return 0;
}

Output:

mul arrays 0 3 PNG

Examples of multidimensional array in C / C++

Here, we have basic examples of multidimensional arrays in C / C++.

Example 1: Find the sum of elements by user-entered row or column in a two-dimensional array.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#define ROW 100
#define COL 100
void ImportArrays(int mt[][COL], int &m, int &n);
void ExportArrays(int mt[][COL], int m, int n);
int SumRow(int mt[][COL], int n, int d);
int SumCol(int mt[][COL], int m, int c);
 
int main()
{
    int mt[ROW][COL];
    int nRow, nCol;
    ImportArrays(mt, nRow, nCol);
    ExportArrays(mt, nRow, nCol);
    int d;
    cout << "Enter row to find of sum: : ";
    cin >> d;
    cout << "Sum of row "<<d<<": " << SumRow(mt, nCol, d) << endl;
    int c;
    cout << "Enter col to find of sum: : ";
    cin >> c;
    cout << "Sum of col "<<c<<": " << SumCol(mt, nRow, c) << endl;
 
    cout<<"\n-------------------------------\n";
    cout<<"This program is posted at learnnc.com";
    return 0;
}
 
void ImportArrays(int mt[][COL], int &m, int &n)
{
    srand(time(NULL));
 
    cout << "Enter row number m: ";
    cin >> m;
    cout << "Enter col number m: ";
    cin >> n;

    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        {
            mt[i][j] = rand() % 100;
        }
    }
}
 
void ExportArrays(int mt[][COL], int m, int n)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        {
            cout << mt[i][j] << "\t";
        }
        cout << endl;
    }
}
 

int SumRow(int mt[][COL], int n, int d)
{
    int sum(0);
    for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        sum += mt[d][j];
    return sum;
}
 

int SumCol(int mt[][COL], int m, int c)
{
    int sum(0);
    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
        sum += mt[i][c];
    return sum;
}

Output:

mul arrays 0 4 PNG

Example 2: Find the largest element in a two-dimensional array

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#define ROW 100
#define COL 100
void ImportArrays(int mt[][COL], int &m, int &n);
void ExportArrays(int mt[][COL], int m, int n);
int FindMax(int mt[][COL], int m, int n);
 
int main()
{
    int mt[ROW][COL];
    int nRow, nCol;
    ImportArrays(mt, nRow, nCol);
    ExportArrays(mt, nRow, nCol);
    int max = FindMax(mt, nRow, nCol);
    cout << "Max = " << max << endl;
 
    cout<<"\n-------------------------------\n";
    cout<<"This program is posted at learnnc.com";
    return 0;
}
 
void ImportArrays(int mt[][COL], int &m, int &n)
{
    srand(time(NULL));
 
    cout << "Enter row number m: ";
    cin >> m;
    cout << "Enter col number m: ";
    cin >> n;

    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        {
            mt[i][j] = rand() % 100;
        }
    }
}
 
void ExportArrays(int mt[][COL], int m, int n)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
        {
            cout << mt[i][j] << "\t";
        }
        cout << endl;
    }
}
 
int FindMax(int mt[][COL], int m, int n)
{
    int i, j, max;
    max = mt[0][0];
    for (i = 0; i < m; i++)
        for (j = 0; j < n; j++)
            if (mt[i][j] > max)
                max = mt[i][j];
    return max;
}

Output:

mul arrays 0 5 PNG

Example 3: Initialize and display elements in a multidimensional array

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
 
int main()
{
    int array[2][3][2] = {
                            {
                                {1, 2},
                                {3, 4},
                                {5, 6}
                            }, 
                            {
                                {7, 8}, 
                                {9, 10}, 
                                {11, 12}
                            }
                        };
 
   
    for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i) {
        for (int j = 0; j < 3; ++j) {
            for (int k = 0; k < 2; ++k) {
                cout << "array[" << i + 1 << "][" << j + 1 << "][" << k + 1 << "] = " << array[i][j][k] << endl;
            }
        }
    }
 
    cout<<"\n-------------------------------\n";
    cout<<"This program is posted at learnnc.com";
    return 0;
}

Output:

mul arrays 0 6 PNG

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