What are Arrays in Java?

An array is a collection of elements of the same data type, stored in contiguous memory locations. It allows multiple values to be stored using a single variable name, making data management more efficient.

Arrays in Java are fixed in size, meaning the number of elements must be specified when the array is created.

Java Program: Storing Ages of 5 Students Without an Array

public class StudentAgesWithoutArray {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Storing ages using individual variables
        int age1 = 18, age2 = 20, age3 = 19, age4 = 21, age5 = 22;

        // Printing ages
        System.out.println("Ages of 5 students:");
        System.out.println("Student 1: " + age1);
        System.out.println("Student 2: " + age2);
        System.out.println("Student 3: " + age3);
        System.out.println("Student 4: " + age4);
        System.out.println("Student 5: " + age5);
    }
}

When we store multiple values without using an array, we need to declare separate variables for each value. For example, if we store the ages of five students without an array, we must create five different variables.

This approach works for small datasets but becomes inefficient when dealing with large amounts of data. Managing multiple variables individually makes the code repetitive, harder to read, and difficult to modify.

public class MasterBackend {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declare and initialize an array to store ages of 5 students
        int[] studentAges = {18, 20, 19, 21, 22};

        // Print the ages using a loop
        System.out.println("Ages of 5 students:");
        for (int i = 0; i < studentAges.length; i++) {
            System.out.println("Student " + (i + 1) + ": " + studentAges[i]);
        }
    }
}

On the other hand, using an array allows us to store multiple values in a single variable, making our code more structured and efficient. Arrays use a loop to process all elements, reducing redundancy and making modifications easier.

Additionally, arrays use contiguous memory locations, which improve performance when accessing data. This is why arrays are preferred when handling multiple values of the same type in Java.

Disadvantages of Array

• Arrays can only store homogeneous data.

• Arrays cannot grow or shrink in size.

• Arrays require contiguous memory allocation.

Advantages of Arrays

• Easy to Use: Arrays allow storing multiple values in a single variable, simplifying data management.

• Fast Access: You can quickly access any element using its index.

• Memory Efficient: Arrays use contiguous memory locations, optimizing space.

• Simple to Traverse: Arrays can be easily iterated through with loops.