Multi Dimensional Array In C# With Example

A multi-dimensional array in C# contains more than one rows. Learn how to work with multi-dimensional arrays including C# 2d array and C# 3d array.

In this article, I will discuss multi-dimensional array in C# with an example. A multi-dimensional array in C# is an array that contains more than one rows to store the data.

 

Here are some facts about multi-dimensional arrays: 

• Multi-dimensional arrays are also known as rectangular arrays in C#
• Each row in the array has same number of elements (length). 
• A multi-dimensional array can be a 2-d (two-dimensional) array or a 3-D (three-dimensional) array or even more, an n-dimensional array.

Arrays are categorized into the following three categories. 

• Single dimensional
• Multi-dimentional
• Jagged

The following code snippet declares a two-dimensional array of four rows and two columns of int type. This array can store int values only.

int[,] int2D = new int[4, 2];

The following code declares and creates an array of three dimensions, 4, 2, and 3 of string type.

string[, ,] str3D = new string[4, 2, 3];

Sample Code

 

Create a Console application in Visual Studio, and write the below code. 

using System;
 using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
    namespace ConsoleDemo
    {
        class Program
        {
            static void Main(string[] args)
            {
                //Multi-Dimensional array Example
                /* Array with 4 rows and 2 columns*/
                int[,] _MultiDimentionArray = new int[4, 2] { { 3, 7 }, { 2, 9 }, { 0, 4 }, { 3, 1 } };
                int i, j;

                for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
                {
                    for (j = 0; j < 2; j++)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("a[{0},{1}] = {2}", i, j,  _MultiDimentionArray[i, j]);
                    }
                }
                Console.ReadKey();
            }
        }
    }

In this above code, a 4x2 multi-dimensional array is initialized with values in it.

 

I hope you understood the concept of multi-dimensional arrays in C#.

 

Here is a detailed tutorial on Working With Arrays In C#.