An array that has more than one subscrpt is known as a multidimensional array. Multidimensional arrays can be visualizes as arrays  of arrays. For example, a two dimensional array can be imagined as a two-dimensional table of a uniform concrete data type as shown below: 

                              0              1                 2                 3                 4

0
1
2

A two-dimensional array is the simplest form of a multidimensional array. In a two-dimensional array, two subscripts are enclosed in square brackets. The rirst subscript designates the row and the second subscript designates the column. A two-dimensional array is used for table processing or matrix manipulation.

The general form of a two-dimensional array declaration in C++ is:

      type array-name[rows][coloumns];

where

      type is base data type of the array

      array-name is name of the array

      rows is first index, denotes number of rows

      columns is second index, denotes number of columns

For example mat represents a two-dimensional array of 3 by 5 values of type int. This array can be declared as:        int mat[3][5];

 

                                   0                     1                     2                     3                     4

0
1				mat[1][3]
2

Array indicies always begin with 0.

The two dimensional array

int mat[3][5]; is equvivalent to

int mat[15]; //(3*5=15)

The only difference being that the compiler reminds us of the depth of each imaginary dimension.

The program

    #include<iostream.h>

    main()

    {

        int i,j;

        int mat[3][5];

        for(i=0;i<3;i++)

            for(j=0;j<5;j++)

                    cin>>mat[i][j];

        for(i=0;i<3;i++)

            for(j=0;j<5;j++)

                    cin>>mat[i][j];

}

may give an output of this kind:

                                  0                       1                  2                    3                        4    

0	2	4	6	8	10
1	1	2	3	4	5
2	3	6	9	12	15

 

 

      

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