Array vs. Structure: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 28, 2024
An array is a collection of elements of the same type placed in contiguous memory locations, while a structure is a user-defined data type that groups different types of data.
Key Differences
An Array is a data structure consisting of a collection of elements, each identified by an array index. A Structure is a complex data type that allows the combination of data items of different kinds.
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Feb 28, 2024
Arrays are used to store multiple values of the same type in a single variable, facilitating easy access and manipulation using indices. Structures, on the other hand, are used to represent a record, like a student's record, combining various data types, such as strings, integers, and floats.
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Feb 28, 2024
In an Array, all elements must be of the same type, for example, an array of integers or an array of characters. In contrast, a Structure can store multiple data types; for instance, a structure can have an integer, a string, and a float simultaneously.
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Feb 28, 2024
Arrays are particularly useful when dealing with a large number of data items that are of the same type, thereby offering efficient ways to organize and process data linearly. Structures provide a means of packing together different types of data elements, making it more suitable for modeling complex data.
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Memory allocation in an Array is static and contiguous, meaning it's fixed at compile time, and elements are stored in consecutive memory locations. Structures have a more flexible memory allocation, allowing various types of data to be stored in non-contiguous memory locations.
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Feb 28, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Data Type Uniformity
Homogeneous (same type)
Heterogeneous (different types)
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Usage
Storing multiple values of the same type
Combining different data types
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Suitability
Efficient for linear data handling
Suitable for complex data modeling
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Feb 28, 2024
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Array and Structure Definitions
Array
Each element in an array is indexed;
She accessed the third element of the array.
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Structure
Structures are user-defined data types;
He created a structure for employee records.
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Array
To set out for display or use; place in an orderly arrangement
Arrayed the whole regiment on the parade ground.
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Structure
A structure groups different types of data;
The structure contained both a name string and an age integer.
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Structure
Structures allow a mix of data types;
Her structure combined dates, texts, and numbers.
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Structure
Structures have named fields for different data;
Access the 'salary' field of the structure.
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Array
An impressively large number, as of persons or objects
An array of heavily armed troops.
An array of spare parts.
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Structure
Structures are useful for modeling real-world entities;
Structures make it easy to represent a book in code.
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Structure
Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way
Hierarchical social structure.
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Array
A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.
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Structure
The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole; makeup
Triangular in structure.
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Structure
The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity
Political structure.
Plot structure.
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Array
An arrangement of usually identical devices, often sensors, that function as a unit
An array of solar panels.
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Array
(Computers) A group of memory elements accessed by one or more indices.
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Structure
The arrangement or formation of the tissues, organs, or other parts of an organism.
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Array
7, Laws N21|url=http://www.joe-offer.com/folkinfo/songs/129.html|passage=Sovay, Sovay all on a day, She dressed herself in man's array, With a sword and a pistol all by her side, To meet her true love to meet her true love away did ride.}}
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Structure
To give form or arrangement to
Structure a curriculum.
Structure one's day.
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Structure
A cohesive whole built up of distinct parts.
The birds had built an amazing structure out of sticks and various discarded items.
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Structure
The underlying shape of a solid.
He studied the structure of her face.
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Array
Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle.
Drawn up in battle array
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Structure
The overall form or organization of something.
The structure of a sentence.
The structure of the society was still a mystery.
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Structure
A set of rules defining behaviour.
For some, the structure of school life was oppressive.
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Structure
(computing) Several pieces of data treated as a unit.
This structure contains both date and timezone information.
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Array
(programming) Any of various data structures designed to hold multiple elements of the same type; especially, a data structure that holds these elements in adjacent memory locations so that they may be retrieved using numeric indices.
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Structure
Underwater terrain or objects (such as a dead tree or a submerged car) that tend to attract fish
There's lots of structure to be fished along the west shore of the lake; the impoundment submerged a town there when it was built.
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Array
(legal) A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impanelled in a cause; the panel itself; or the whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court.
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Structure
A body, such as a political party, with a cohesive purpose or outlook.
The South African leader went off to consult with the structures.
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Structure
(logic) A set along with a collection of finitary functions and relations.
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Structure
(transitive) To give structure to; to arrange.
I'm trying to structure my time better so I'm not always late.
I've structured the deal to limit the amount of money we can lose.
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Structure
The act of building; the practice of erecting buildings; construction.
His son builds on, and never is contentTill the last farthing is in structure spent.
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Array
To clothe and ornament; to adorn or attire.
He was arrayed in his finest robes and jewels.
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Structure
Manner of building; form; make; construction.
Want of insight into the structure and constitution of the terraqueous globe.
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Structure
Arrangement of parts, of organs, or of constituent particles, in a substance or body; as, the structure of a rock or a mineral; the structure of a sentence.
It [basalt] has often a prismatic structure.
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Array
(legal) To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them one at a time.
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Structure
Manner of organization; the arrangement of the different tissues or parts of animal and vegetable organisms; as, organic structure, or the structure of animals and plants; cellular structure.
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Array
Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle; as, drawn up in battle array.
Wedged together in the closest array.
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Structure
That which is built; a building; esp., a building of some size or magnificence; an edifice.
There stands a structure of majestic frame.
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Array
The whole body of persons thus placed in order; an orderly collection; hence, a body of soldiers.
A gallant array of nobles and cavaliers.
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Structure
A thing constructed; a complex construction or entity;
The structure consisted of a series of arches
She wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons
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Array
An imposing series of things.
Their long array of sapphire and of gold.
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Structure
The manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts;
Artists must study the structure of the human body
The structure of the benzene molecule
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Array
Dress; garments disposed in order upon the person; rich or beautiful apparel.
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Structure
The complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations;
His lectures have no structure
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Array
A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impaneled in a cause.
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Structure
A particular complex anatomical structure;
He has good bone structure
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Array
To place or dispose in order, as troops for battle; to marshal.
By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,Each horseman drew his battle blade.
These doubts will be arrayed before their minds.
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Structure
The people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships;
The social organization of England and America is very different
Sociologists have studied the changing structure of the family
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Array
To deck or dress; to adorn with dress; to cloth to envelop; - applied esp. to dress of a splendid kind.
Pharaoh . . . arrayed him in vestures of fine linen.
In gelid caves with horrid gloom arrayed.
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Array
To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them man by man.
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Array
An impressive display;
It was a bewildering array of books
His tools were in an orderly array on the basement wall
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Array
An arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics
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Array
An array is a collection of similar data elements;
The array stored all the student grades.
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Jan 18, 2024
Array
An array uses contiguous memory allocation;
Arrays enhance performance due to their memory structure.
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Jan 18, 2024
Array
Arrays have a fixed size;
Once declared, the size of the array cannot be changed.
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Array
All elements in an array are of the same type;
The integer array can only store integers.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is an array in programming?
An array is a collection of elements of the same type.
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Feb 28, 2024
Can structures contain arrays?
Yes, structures can include arrays as fields.
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Feb 28, 2024
What types of data can a structure hold?
Structures can hold various data types, like int, float, char.
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Feb 28, 2024
What is a structure in programming?
A structure is a user-defined data type grouping different types.
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Feb 28, 2024
Are arrays faster than structures?
Arrays can be faster due to contiguous memory allocation.
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Feb 28, 2024
How is memory allocated for arrays?
Memory for arrays is allocated contiguously.
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How are elements in a structure accessed?
Elements in a structure are accessed by their names.
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Can structures contain functions?
In some languages, like C++, structures can have functions.
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Feb 28, 2024
What is the length of an array?
The length of an array is the number of elements it can hold.
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Can arrays be multidimensional?
Yes, arrays can have multiple dimensions, like 2D or 3D.
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Do structures support inheritance?
In languages like C++, structures support inheritance.
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Feb 28, 2024
Can arrays store different data types?
No, arrays can only store elements of the same data type.
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Feb 28, 2024
How is a structure declared?
A structure is declared by defining its data fields.
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Can structures be passed to functions?
Yes, structures can be passed to functions as arguments.
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Feb 28, 2024
Can structures be nested?
Yes, structures can be nested within other structures.
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How do you initialize an array?
Arrays are initialized with a specified size and elements.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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