Example
An array is just a block of sequential memory locations for a specific type of variable. Arrays are allocated the same way as normal variables, but with square brackets appended to its name [] that contain the number of elements that fit into the array memory.
The following example of an array uses the typ int, the variable name arrayOfInts, and the number of elements [5] that the array has space for:
int arrayOfInts[5];
An array can be declared and initialized at the same time like this
int arrayOfInts[5] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
When initializing an array by listing all of its members, it is not necessary to include the number of elements inside the square brackets. It will be automatically calculated by the compiler. In the following example, it's 5:
int arrayOfInts[] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
It is also possible to initialize only the first elements while allocating more space. In this case, defining the length in brackets is mandatory. The following will allocate an array of length 5 with partial initialization, the compiler initializes all remaining elements with the standard value of the element type, in this case zero.
int arrayOfInts[5] = {10,20}; // means 10, 20, 0, 0, 0
Arrays of other basic data types may be initialized in the same way.
char arrayOfChars[5]; // declare the array and allocate the memory, don't initialize
char arrayOfChars[5] = { 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e' } ; //declare and initialize
double arrayOfDoubles[5] = {1.14159, 2.14159, 3.14159, 4.14159, 5.14159};
string arrayOfStrings[5] = { "C++", "is", "super", "duper", "great!"};
It is also important to take note that when accessing array elements, the array's element index(or position) starts from 0.
int array[5] = { 10/*Element no.0*/, 20/*Element no.1*/, 30, 40, 50/*Element no.4*/};
std::cout << array[4]; //outputs 50
std::cout << array[0]; //outputs 10
