1-Dimensional Arrays
What is an array?
• An array is an ordered, static set of elements in a fixed-size memory
location
• An array can only store 1 data type
• A 1D array is a linear array
• Indexes start at generally start at 0, known as zero-indexed
Concept Pseudocode Python
DECLARE scores: ARRAY[0:4]OF INTEGER scores = []
Creates a blank array with 5 elements (0-4) Creates a blank array
Create scores = [12, 10, 5, 2,
scores ← [12, 10, 5, 2, 8]
8]
Creates an array called scores with values assigned
colours[4] ← "Red" colours[4] = "Red"
Assignment
Assigns the colour "Red" to index 4 (5th element)
Example in Python
Creating a one-dimensional array called ‘array’ which contains 5 integers.
• Create the array with the following syntax:
array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Access the individual elements of the array by using the following syntax:
array[index]
• Modify the individual elements by assigning new values to specific indexes
using the following syntax:
array[index] = newValue
• Use the len function to determine the length of the array by using the following
syntax:
len(array)
• In the example the array has been iterated through to output each element
within the array. A for loop has been used for this
Python
# Creating a one-dimensional array
array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# Accessing elements of the array
print(array[0]) # Output: 1
print(array[2]) # Output: 3
# Modifying elements of the array
array[1] = 10
print(array) # Output: [1, 10, 3, 4, 5]
# Iterating over the array
for element in array:
print(element)
# Output:
#1
# 10
#3
#4
#5
# Length of the array
length = len(array)
print(length) # Output: 5
2-Dimensional Arrays
What is a 2-dimensional array?
• A 2D array extends the concept on a 1D array by adding another
dimension
• A 2D array can be visualised as a table with rows and columns
• When navigating through a 2D array you first have to go down the rows and
then across the columns to find a position within the array
Concept Pseudocode Python
Creates a 3x2 blank array (3
Declare a 2D array with name
people, each with name and
and number for 3 people
number)
DECLARE NamesAndNumbers :
ARRAY[1:3, 1:2] OF STRING
1:3 = 3 rows → one for each person
NamesANDNumbers = [[None,
1:2 = 2 columns → one for name,
None], [None, None], [None, None]]
one for number
Create OF STRING → both names and
phone numbers are stored as
strings
Declare a 2D array called players with name and score assigned for 4
people (Alice, Bob, Charlie & Daisy)
# Each player has a name and a
// Declare a 2D array with 4 rows
score
and 2 columns (name and score)
players = [
DECLARE players : ARRAY[1:4, 1:2]
OF STRING
["Alice", 25],
// Assign values to each player ["Bob", 30],
players[1,1] ← "Alice" ["Charlie", 22],
players[1,2] ← "25" ["Daisy", 28]
players[2,1] ← "Bob" ]
players[2,2] ← "30"
players[3,1] ← "Charlie"
players[3,2] ← "22"
players[4,1] ← "Daisy"
players[4,2] ← "28"
Assigning the name Holly to replace the name Charlie
Assignm players[2][0] = "Holly" # Charlie is at
ent players[3,1] ← "Holly" index 2 (third row), name is at index
0
Example in Python
Initialising a 2D array with 3 rows and 3 columns, with the specified values
array_2d = [[1, 2, 3],
[4, 5, 6],
[7, 8, 9]]
# Accessing elements in the 2D array
print(array_2d[0][0]) # Output: 1
print(array_2d[1][2]) # Output: 6
Iterating through a 2-dimensions array
• When iterating through an array, a nested for loop can be used
Nested iteration to access items in the 2D array
for row in array_2d:
for item in row:
print(item, end=" ")
print() # Print a newline after each row
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the exam, the question will always give an example to demonstrate which order
the array is being read from.
Some questions can be X,Y and others can be Y, X. Always refer to the example
before giving your answer!
Worked Example
A parent records the length of time being spent watching TV by 4 children
Data for one week (Monday to Friday) is stored in a 2D array with the identifier
minsWatched.
The following table shows the array
Quinn Lyla Harry Elias
0 1 2 3
Monday 0 34 67 89 78
Tuesday 1 56 43 45 56
Wednesday 2 122 23 34 45
Thursday 3 13 109 23 90
Friday 4 47 100 167 23
Elias watched 78 minutes of TV on Monday:
• Identify the row for Monday: Row 0.
• Identify the column for Elias: Column 3.
• Find the value at minsWatched[0][3]: The value is 78
Write a line of code to output the number of minutes that Lyla watched TV on
Tuesday [1]
Write a line of code to output the number of minutes that Harry watched TV on
Friday [1]
Write a line of code to output the number of minutes that Quinn watched TV on
Wednesday [1]
Answers
• print(minsWatched[1][1] OR print(minsWatched[1,1]
• print(minsWatched[4][2] OR print(minsWatched[4,2]
• print(minsWatched[2][0] OR print(minsWatched[2,0]
