Array

An array is a systematic arrangement of similar objects, usually in rows and columns.

The little push-buttons on the upper part of the right electronic device are arranged in an array with 3 columns and 4 rows. The two devices themselves form a very simple array of 2 columns and 1 row.

Things called an array include:

Music

• In twelve-tone and serial composition, the presentation of simultaneous twelve-tone sets such that the sums of their horizontal segments form a succession of twelve-tone aggregates
• Array mbira, a musical instrument
• Spiral array model, a music pitch space

Science

Astronomy

A telescope array is also called astronomical interferometer. The best known to the public, and a genuine tourist attraction, is the Very Large Array, in New Mexico. ^[1]

Biology

• Various kinds of multiple biological arrays called microarrays. ^[2] The first type of microarray was an antibody microarray invented in 1983 by Tse Wen Chang. ^[3] and n the past 40 years, this concept has been used in many biological applications, including the DNA microarray, which has lead to the "gene chip" industry started by Ron Davis and Pat Brown at Stanford University, ^[4] and protein and Peptide microarrays.

• Visual feature array, a model for the visual cortex

Computer science

Generally, a collection of same type data items that can be selected by indices computed at run-time, including:

• Array (data structure), an arrangement of items at equally spaced addresses in computer memory
• Array (data type), used in a programming language to specify a variable that can be indexed
• Associative array, an abstract data structure model composed of key-value pairs, often implemented as a hash table or search tree

or various kinds of the above, such as:

• Bit array or bit vector
• Dynamic array, allocated at run time
• Jagged array, an array of arrays of which the member arrays can be of different lengths
• Parallel array of records, with each field stored as a separate array
• Sparse array, with most elements omitted, to store a sparse matrix
• Variable-length array

or various related concepts:

• Array programming, using matrix algebra notation in programs (not the same as array processing)
• Array slicing, the extraction of sub-arrays of an array

or also:

• Global Arrays, a library for parallel processing
• Intel Array Visualizer, a piece of scientific graphics software

Mathematics and statistics

• A standard array in coding theory
• An array or matrix (mathematics)
  • a Costas array
  • a Monge array
• A holor
• In statistics, arrays are a name for some kinds of Category:Experimental design
• Intersection array a concept of category theory

Technology

Computing

• Array data structure, an arrangement of data in computer memory
• Asynchronous array of simple processors
• Disk array, such as the RAID
• Gate array, including a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)
• ICL Distributed Array Processor, an array processor for the ICL
• Integrated circuit packages:
  • Ball grid array
  • pin grid array
  • land grid array
• Processor array
• Programmable Array Logic (PAL), a systematic way to implement Boolean functions
• Reconfigurable datapath array, a flexible data processing architecture
• Systolic array, a hardware architecture
• Transistor array, an integrated circuit
• Video Graphics Array (VGA), a display adapter and many variants thereof
• Wi-Fi array, a wireless networking device

Other technologies

• Antenna array
• Array gain, a telecommunications parameter
• Array processing of multichannel signals (not to be confused with array programming)
• Color filter array, placed over an imaging array
• Field emitter array, an electron source
• Halbach array, an arrangement of magnets
• Linear diode array used in image scanners
• Microphone array
• Parametric array of transducers
• Phased-array optics
• Photovoltaic array
• Staring array, an imaging sensor
• Towed array sonar

Other

• A Commission of Array, a commission for mustering a militia
• ARRAY, an independent film distribution company
• Array Networks, a computer networking company
• Array Collective, a Belfast-based artist-activist collaborative project

References

1. "Visit the Very Large Array". National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
2. Carroll, Gregory T.; Wang, Denong; Turro, Nicholas J.; Koberstein, Jeffrey T. (2008). "Photons to illuminate the universe of sugar diversity through bioarrays". Glycoconjugate Journal. 25 (1): 5–10. doi:10.1007/s10719-007-9052-1. ISSN   0282-0080. PMC   7088275 . PMID   17610157.
3. Tse-Wen Chang, TW (1983). "Binding of cells to matrixes of distinct antibodies coated on solid surface". Journal of Immunological Methods. 65 (1–2): 217–23. doi:10.1016/0022-1759(83)90318-6. PMID   6606681.
4. Schena, M.; Shalon, D.; Davis, R. W.; Brown, P. O. (1995). "Quantitative Monitoring of Gene Expression Patterns with a Complementary DNA Microarray". Science. 270 (5235): 467–70. Bibcode:1995Sci...270..467S. doi:10.1126/science.270.5235.467. PMID   7569999. S2CID   6720459.