Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The syntax arrayName[index] is used in programming languages to access a specific element within an array. "arrayName" represents the name of the array, and "index" refers to the position of the desired element.
An array is a data structure that stores a fixed-size sequence of elements of the same type. It allows for efficient storage and retrieval of multiple values using indexes.
An element refers to an individual value stored within an array or collection. Each element has its own unique index that determines its position within the data structure.
Index Out-of-Bounds Error: An index out-of-bounds error occurs when you try to access or modify an element using an invalid index (outside the valid range). It can result in runtime errors or unexpected behavior.