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It
is possible to have arrays of more than one dimension.
Each dimension is represented as a subscript in
the array. Therefore, a two-dimensional array has
two subscripts; a three-dimensional array has three
subscripts; and so on. Arrays can have any number
of dimensions, although it is likely that most of
the arrays you create will be of one or two dimensions.
A
good example of a two-dimensional array is a chess
board. One dimension represents the eight rows;
the other dimension represents the eight columns.
Figure 11.3 illustrates this idea.
Suppose
that you have a class named SQUARE. The declaration
of an array named Board that represents it would
be
SQUARE
Board[8][8];
You
could also represent the same data with a one-dimensional,
64-square array. For example,
SQUARE
Board[64]
This
doesn’t correspond as closely to the real-world
object as the two-dimension. When the game begins,
the king is located in the fourth position in
the first row. Counting from zero array, that
position corresponds to
Board[0][3];
assuming
that the first subscript corresponds to row, and
the second to column. The layout of positions
for the entire board is illustrated in Figure
11.3.
Figure 11.3. A chess board and a two-dimensional
array.
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