Excess elements in array initializer C++ char Xcode

Question

My first name has six letters and my second name has four.

The incorrect code will build and print:

char myName[4][6] = {{'x', 'x', 'x', 'x', 'x', 'x'}, {'x', 'x', 'x', 'x'}};

But the correct code will not:

char myName [6] [4] = {{'x', 'x', 'x', 'x', 'x', 'x'}, {'x', 'x', 'x', 'x'}};

Is there a reason that:

the second array [4] is being applied to the first set of characters?
the first array [6] is being applied to the second set of characters?

I am using the most recent version of Xcode. Is there some sort of glitch where arrays are inverted or something? I've looked around but I can't find anything explaining this.

Paul Evans · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-10 01:34:46Z

1

This is because a char myName[4][6] is a four element array of six char arrays (so your data will fit). where as char myName[6][4] is six arrays of four char arrays (which will not fit your six char array).

answered Oct 10, 2015 at 1:34

Paul Evans

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2 Comments

cc77 Over a year ago

Thank you! That makes perfect sense... On the tutorial I watched - he was entering two five letter names and typed it like this: char myName [5][5] = etc... Threw me off.

blm Over a year ago

While that answer is correct, you could expand it a bit to show what the poster really wants. The poster seems to be under the impression that myName[6][4] is declaring a two element array with the first element being a 6 element array and the second a 4 element array, which isn't correct.

David Pulse · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-10 02:21:26Z

0

char[0] [0][1] [0][2]

char[1] [1][1] [1][2]

And also, you can put an array into an array. So if you imagine this, you can have pages of arrays. Just link do something like..

int a[0] = b[4];

That will put b[4][...] into the single cell of a[0]. Useful for games or whatnot.

edited Oct 10, 2015 at 2:21

answered Oct 10, 2015 at 2:13

David Pulse

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2 Comments

cc77 Over a year ago

So with both arrays and characters you begin counting at 0? (0, 1, 2, etc.) That is to say, char [2] [4] is actually 3 arrays of 5 characters?

David Pulse Over a year ago

And btw, the access to that b[4] is a[0[0]], i believe

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