C# Jagged Array Examples

Use jagged arrays to store data that comes in different sizes, and to reduce memory usage.

Jagged arrays. Consider a city skyline: each tower is a different height. Suppose we represent the floors in an array. A 2D array would have wasted space. A jagged array would be best.2D Array Array

With jagged arrays, we can store (efficiently) many rows of varying lengths. No space (on the tops of the skyscrapers) is wasted. Any type of data—reference or value—can be used.

First example. This code is a short (but complete) program you can run in a console project. It builds up a small jagged array, and then iterates through it.

Part 1: First we create a jagged array of int elements. The array has 3 rows—so it can have 3 subarrays once they are all assigned.

Int, uint

Part 2: We assign the indexes to new int arrays. We only have an array of empty references—new arrays must be created for the rows.

Part 3: We examine each item in the jagged array. We call Length first on the array of references, and iterate through the rows.

Part 4: Here we iterate over the inner arrays (the columns) and print all the element values to the screen.

Console

C# program that creates jagged array using System; class Program { static void Main() { // Part 1: declare local jagged array with 3 rows. int[][] jagged = new int[3][]; // Part 2: create a new array in the jagged array. jagged[0] = new int[2]; jagged[0][0] = 1; jagged[0][1] = 2; jagged[1] = new int[1]; jagged[2] = new int[3] { 3, 4, 5 }; // Part 3: iterate overall the elements. for (int i = 0; i < jagged.Length; i++) { // Part 4: iterate over the inner array. // ... Print all its elements. int[] innerArray = jagged[i]; for (int a = 0; a < innerArray.Length; a++) { Console.Write(innerArray[a] + " "); } Console.WriteLine(); } } } Output 1 2 0 3 4 5

2D arrays. We determine how to choose between jagged arrays and 2D arrays. First ask the question: will every row in my collection have the same number of elements?

And: If so, you can consider 2D arrays, but often you have varying numbers of elements.

Performance: Jagged arrays are faster and have different syntax. They are faster because they use the "newarr", vector IL calls internally.

Zero index: The boost in performance with jagged arrays is because they are optimized for starting at 0 indexes.

IL: newarr IL Disassembler

Method that is reflected for MSIL test: C# private static void CompareIL() { int[,] twoD = new int[1, 1]; // 1 x 1 array twoD[0, 0] = 1; int[][] jag = new int[1][]; jag[0] = new int[1]; jag[0][0] = 1; // 1 x 1 jagged array }

Methods. We can use the type of the jagged array in method signatures. They will be passed as references. This eliminates most copying. Only the reference is copied on each function call.

PrintFirstElement: This receives a jagged array. The string data is not copied when it is called—just the reference to that data is copied.

C# program that shows jagged array argument using System; class Program { static void PrintFirstElement(string[][] values) { // Only the reference is copied when this method is called with an array. Console.WriteLine(values[0][0]); } static void Main() { PrintFirstElement(new string[][] { new string[] { "bird", "frog" }, new string[] { "cat", "dog" }}); } } Output bird

Benchmark, element access. The .NET Framework has optimizations for single-dimension arrays within a jagged array. A 2D array cannot take advantage of them.

Version 1: This code accesses the elements in a 2D array. It loops over elements with a for-loop.

For

Version 2: This version of the code accesses the elements of a jagged array in a for-loop.

Result: Jagged have substantial optimizations in the intermediate language level. This can be exploited to speed up programs.

C# program that benchmarks 2D, jagged arrays using System; using System.Diagnostics; class Program { const int _max = 100000; static void Main() { // Set up data. var a1 = new int[100, 100]; var a2 = new int[100][]; for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) { a2[i] = new int[100]; } // Version 1: access 2D array. var s1 = Stopwatch.StartNew(); for (int i = 0; i < _max; i++) { for (int a = 0; a < 100; a++) { for (int x = 0; x < 100; x++) { int c = a1[a, x]; } } } s1.Stop(); // Version 2: access jagged array. var s2 = Stopwatch.StartNew(); for (int i = 0; i < _max; i++) { for (int a = 0; a < 100; a++) { for (int x = 0; x < 100; x++) { int c = a2[a][x]; } } } s2.Stop(); // Results. Console.WriteLine(s1.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds); Console.WriteLine(s2.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds); } } Output 2D array access: 1286.5545 ms Jagged array access: 486.7875 ms

Benchmark, allocation. Consider a space of 100 by 100 elements. We can allocate 100 separate arrays in a jagged array (101 arrays total), or use a single 2D array.

Version 1: Here we allocate 2D arrays. A 2D array only requires 1 allocation, and can be garbage-collected easier as well.

Version 2: In this version of the code we allocate jagged arrays in a tight loop. More allocations must occur.

Result: It is faster to allocate the space in the form of a 2D array. The jagged array could be allocated lazily, which might be better.

C# program that benchmarks 2D, jagged array allocation using System; using System.Diagnostics; class Program { const int _max = 100000; static void Main() { // Version 1: create 2D array. var s1 = Stopwatch.StartNew(); for (int i = 0; i < _max; i++) { Create2DArray(); } s1.Stop(); // Version 2: create jagged array. var s2 = Stopwatch.StartNew(); for (int i = 0; i < _max; i++) { CreateJaggedArray(); } s2.Stop(); // Print times. Console.WriteLine(s1.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds); Console.WriteLine(s2.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds); } static int[][] CreateJaggedArray() { var array = new int[100][]; for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) { array[i] = new int[100]; } return array; } static int[,] Create2DArray() { var array = new int[100, 100]; return array; } } Output 2D array allocation: 202.1575 ms Jagged array allocation: 452.0066 ms

Benchmark, memory use. A jagged array will use more memory than a 2D array assuming all sub-arrays are allocated. Here we see 2 programs that test memory use.

Version 1: This measures the memory use of a jagged array of 1000 sub-arrays. The memory size (measured with GetTotalMemory) is printed.

GC.Collect

Version 2: This measures the memory of a 2D array of the same element count as the jagged array in version 1. It uses less memory.

Result: For rectangular shapes, prefer a 2D array for best memory compactness. Fewer bytes per element are used.

Important: If your data is truly "jagged" or uneven in the lengths of subarrays, a jagged array may be far superior in memory use.

C# program that measures jagged array memory using System; class Program { static void Main() { long b1 = GC.GetTotalMemory(true); // Version 1: test memory usage of a jagged array. int[][] jagged = new int[1000][]; for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) { jagged[i] = new int[100]; } long b2 = GC.GetTotalMemory(true); jagged[0][0] = 0; Console.WriteLine("{0} bytes (jagged 1000 x 100)", b2 - b1); } } Output 416028 bytes (jagged 1000 x 100) C# program that measures 2D array memory using System; class Program { static void Main() { long b1 = GC.GetTotalMemory(true); // Version 2: test memory usage of a two-dimensional array. int[,] array = new int[1000, 100]; long b2 = GC.GetTotalMemory(true); array[0, 0] = 0; Console.WriteLine("{0} bytes (2D 1000 x 100)", b2 - b1); } } Output 400032 bytes (2D 1000 x 100)

Performance, review. Element access in jagged arrays is faster than in 2D arrays. But to allocate a large space at once, 2D arrays are a better choice.

A summary. Jagged arrays are fast and easy to use once you learn the syntax. Prefer them to 2D arrays when performance is key. Be careful of excess memory usage.

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