Array and matrix

Question

What is an array and what is a matrix?

Answer 1

Depending on context language, arrays ( sometimes named lists ) are not necessary holding a fixed number of value of a single type: JS Arrays, or Python List arre dynamical and not typed, meaning you can mix data type items inside them and you can change the number of items contained at run time, adding or substracting them ^^

"Matrix" is the mathemaical word for the same kind of data structure named 'Array' or 'List' in programming vocabulary, limited to numerical values, and coming with set of calculation rules helpful for improve complex mathematical calculation ;)

Answer 2

@Alvaro: oh! I didn't know that... my mathematical skills doesn't go as deeper ;P ( anyway, they cannot handle 'string' values ^^ )

Answer 3

An array is a container object that holds a fixed number of values of a single type. The length of the array is established at creation time and after this its length is fixed.

A matrix is a two dimensional (or multiple dimensions) array which resembles a table with rows and columns.

int [ ] [ ] scores = new int [ 4 ] [ 5 ];

Indicates that there will be four arrays of ints in the array scores with 5 ints on each array of ints.

Answer 4

@visph:
<little-off-topic>
Mathematical matrices can hold more than numerical values, e.g. functions, submatrices, spaces...
</little-off-topic>