A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

What is the characteristic feature of a two-dimensional array?

1. It can store elements of different types

2. It organizes data in a matrix format

3. It requires no memory allocation

4. It can only contain integers

The correct answer is: It organizes data in a matrix format

A two-dimensional array is fundamentally structured to hold data in a matrix format, which resembles a table with rows and columns. Each position in the array is indexed by two indices – typically representing the row and the column. This organization allows for efficient representation and access of data, particularly for applications involving grids, such as image processing or game boards. While two-dimensional arrays have specific data types associated with them – usually being homogeneous (that is, all elements being of the same type) – the critical characteristic that distinguishes them is their two-dimensional structure rather than the type of data they hold. Options regarding memory allocation and element types are not defining features of two-dimensional arrays; instead, they specify implementation details or constraints that may vary depending on the programming language being used.