Arrays in C: Advanced Data Types

This lecture covers advanced data types in C programming, focusing on arrays. It begins with an overview of composite types, specifically homogeneous arrays that consist of elements of the same type. The instructor explains the fixed-size nature of arrays in C, contrasting them with variable-length arrays (VLAs) introduced in C99. Various types of arrays are discussed, including their declaration, initialization, and access methods. The lecture emphasizes the importance of understanding array indices and the lack of bounds checking, which can lead to memory corruption. The instructor also addresses the passing of arrays to functions, highlighting that arrays are passed by reference and do not carry size information. Additionally, the lecture explores multidimensional arrays, their declaration, initialization, and the nuances of passing them to functions. The session concludes with a cautionary note on the limitations of arrays in C and suggests using structures to overcome some of these challenges.