What is Jagged Array ?

Before learning about Jagged Array, we need to know about array and its types, so here is: A short overview about array.

Array : Array is a special type of the variable in that we can store zero or more values of the similar data type.

Types of Array: In java Array is categorized in three category-

1. Single Dimensional Array

2. Multi Dimensional Array

3. Jagged Array

Single Dimensional Array :

A single dimensional array in Java is an array that holds a sequence of elements, all of the same type, accessed through an index

int[] arr=new int[5];

2. Multidimensional Array :

• A multidimensional array is an array of arrays.
• Multidimensional arrays are useful when you want to store data as a tabular form, like a table with rows and columns

int [][] arr= new int[3][3];

Note: Array always occupy the memory in contiguous manner

Ex:- int arr[][]=new int[3][5];

int[][] arr = {{1,2},{4,5},{7,8}};

EX:

int[][] intArray = new int[4][4]; //Declaration & Instantiation

//Below is the initialization

intArray[0][0] = 0;

intArray[0][1] = 1;

intArray[0][2] = 2;

intArray[0][3] = 3;

intArray[1][0] = 4;

intArray[1][1] = 5;

intArray[1][2] = 6;

intArray[1][3] = 7;

intArray[2][0] = 8;

intArray[2][1] = 9;

intArray[2][2] = 10;

intArray[2][3] = 11;

intArray[3][0] = 12;

intArray[3][1] = 13;

intArray[3][2] = 14;

intArray[3][3] = 15;

3. Jagged Array:

Jagged Array is also a kind of the Multi-Dimensional Array.

When we have the different-different number of the columns in the different-different rows. That process is known as Jagged Array.

Note : Array rows with different no of columns is known as jagged array

Declaration :

int[][] a = { {1,2,3}, {4,5,6,7}, {8,9}, {10,11,12,13,14} };