Arrays

Arrays are used to store multiple variables in an organized way. Before you can use an array, you must declare it. Example: 

  int myArray[8]

This declares a static array called myArray with 8 elements. (It is called a static array because the number of elements is fixed. To declare a dynamic array that allows the number of elements to be changed later, see Dynamic arrays.)

You can use the elements in the array like normal variables: 

  myArray[0] = 1  myArray[myArray[0]] = 2 * myArray[0] + 1

You access an element in an array by specifying the index of the element between square brackets [ ]. The index must be an integer expression, ranging from 0 to the number of elements – 1 (the value 0 corresponds to the first element in the array).

You can also declare and use multi-dimensional arrays by specifying multiple values between the brackets. When declaring an array, the size of each dimension must be a constant integer expression. Parameters and most predefined symbols also qualify as constants. Example: 

  float a[10, 2 * 6 - 2]  bool flags[#width, #height]  a[3, 5 - 3] = 1.5  flags[0, 0] = a[1 + 2, 2] > 0

You can directly assign arrays with the same size to one another: 

  color x[10]  color y[10]  x = y

Notes

  • Unlike other types of variables, arrays are not initialized upon declaration. Be sure to explicitly initialize all elements in arrays before reading from them. They will contain random values otherwise. Reading from an array element that has not been initialized does not generate a warning either, so you have to check your formulas carefully.
  • You will often use loops to iterate through the elements of an array.
  • Arrays are often filled with pre-calculated values in the global section to speed up calculations.
  • If you use constant array indices outside the supported bounds, the compiler will produce an error message. If you use expressions that evaluate to an invalid index value while the formula is executed, a run-time message is written to the Compiler Messages tool window if the debug compiler directive is defined. See Compiler directives.
  • If you assign arrays to one another that are incompatible and the size of the arrays is unknown at compile time, a run-time message occurs, too.

Next: Dynamic arrays

See Also
Types
Variables

Arrays