What is the difference between a jagged array and a multidimensional array?

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What is the difference between a jagged array and a multidimensional array?

A jagged array, also known as an array of arrays, is an array whose elements are arrays themselves. Each element of a jagged array can have a different length, allowing for irregular or jagged structures. In other words, a jagged array is an array of arrays where each sub-array can have a different number of elements.

On the other hand, a multidimensional array is a rectangular structure where each element is accessed using multiple indices. It is a single array that can store multiple dimensions of data. The dimensions in a multidimensional array are fixed and all sub-arrays have the same length.

In summary, the main difference between a jagged array and a multidimensional array lies in their structure and flexibility. A jagged array allows for varying lengths of sub-arrays, while a multidimensional array has fixed dimensions and all sub-arrays have the same length.