Array creation and usage in Kotlin

Introduction

Arrays help you store many items together in one place. This makes it easy to keep and use groups of data.

When you want to keep a list of your favorite fruits.

When you need to store daily temperatures for a week.

When you want to remember scores of players in a game.

When you want to process a fixed number of items one by one.

Syntax

Kotlin

fun main() {
    // Create an array of integers
    val numbers: Array<Int> = arrayOf(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

    // Access an element by index
    val firstNumber = numbers[0]

    // Change an element
    numbers[1] = 10

    // Print the array
    println(numbers.joinToString())
}

Arrays in Kotlin have fixed size once created.

Use square brackets [] to get or set an element by its position (index).

Examples

This shows how to create an empty array with no elements.

Kotlin

fun main() {
    // Empty array of Strings
    val emptyArray = arrayOf<String>()
    println(emptyArray.size) // 0
}

Array with only one item. Accessing index 0 gives that item.

Kotlin

fun main() {
    // Array with one element
    val singleElementArray = arrayOf("Hello")
    println(singleElementArray[0]) // Hello
}

Accessing the last element using size - 1 index.

Kotlin

fun main() {
    // Array with multiple elements
    val colors = arrayOf("Red", "Green", "Blue")
    println(colors[colors.size - 1]) // Blue
}

Sample Program

This program creates an array of names, changes one name, and prints the array before and after the change. It also prints the first name separately.

Kotlin

fun main() {
    // Create an array of names
    val names = arrayOf("Alice", "Bob", "Charlie")
    println("Before change: " + names.joinToString())

    // Change the second name
    names[1] = "Becky"
    println("After change: " + names.joinToString())

    // Access and print the first name
    val firstName = names[0]
    println("First name is: $firstName")
}

Important Notes

Accessing or changing an element by an invalid index causes an error.

Arrays have fixed size; to add or remove items, use other collections like lists.

Time complexity to access or change an element by index is O(1) - very fast.

Summary

Arrays store multiple items in one variable.

You can get or set items using their position (index).

Arrays have fixed size and fast access by index.

Practice

1. What is the correct way to create an array of integers with values 1, 2, and 3 in Kotlin?

easy

A. val arr = Array(3) { 1, 2, 3 }

B. val arr = arrayOf(1, 2, 3)

C. val arr = IntArray(1, 2, 3)

D. val arr = [1, 2, 3]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand array creation syntax

   Kotlin uses arrayOf() to create an array with given elements.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   val arr = arrayOf(1, 2, 3) uses arrayOf(1, 2, 3) which is correct. val arr = [1, 2, 3] uses square brackets which is invalid in Kotlin. val arr = IntArray(1, 2, 3) which uses invalid constructor arguments for IntArray. val arr = Array(3) { 1, 2, 3 } tries to pass multiple values in a lambda which is incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   val arr = arrayOf(1, 2, 3) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use arrayOf() for arrays with elements [OK]

Hint: Use arrayOf() to create arrays with elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using square brackets [] like in other languages
• Confusing IntArray with Array<Int>
• Trying to pass multiple values in Array constructor lambda

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create an array of size 5 with all elements initialized to zero in Kotlin?

easy

A. val arr = Array(5, 0)

B. val arr = Array(0, 0, 0, 0, 0)

C. val arr = Array(5) { 0 }

D. val arr = IntArray(5, 0)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Array constructor usage

   Kotlin's Array(size) { init } creates an array of given size, initializing each element with the lambda result.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   val arr = Array(5) { 0 } correctly uses Array(5) { 0 } to create an array of 5 zeros. val arr = Array(0, 0, 0, 0, 0) is invalid syntax. val arr = Array(5, 0) is invalid syntax. val arr = IntArray(5, 0) is invalid because IntArray constructor takes only size or size with init lambda, not two parameters.

3. Final Answer:

   val arr = Array(5) { 0 } -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use Array(size) { value } to initialize [OK]

Hint: Use Array(size) with lambda to initialize all elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing two parameters to Array constructor incorrectly
• Confusing IntArray constructor parameters
• Passing multiple values directly to Array constructor

3. What will be the output of the following Kotlin code?

val arr = arrayOf(10, 20, 30)
println(arr[1])

medium

A. 20

B. 10

C. 30

D. IndexOutOfBoundsException

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand array indexing

   Arrays in Kotlin are zero-indexed, so arr[0] is 10, arr[1] is 20, and arr[2] is 30.

2. Step 2: Check the printed value

   The code prints arr[1], which is 20.

3. Final Answer:

   20 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Array index 1 holds 20 [OK]

Hint: Remember arrays start at index 0 in Kotlin [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing index 1 with first element
• Expecting 30 instead of 20
• Thinking arrays start at 1

4. Identify the error in the following Kotlin code snippet:

val arr = arrayOf(1, 2, 3)
arr[3] = 4
println(arr.joinToString())

medium

A. arr is immutable, cannot assign new value

B. No error, output is '1, 2, 3, 4'

C. Syntax error in array declaration

D. IndexOutOfBoundsException at arr[3] assignment

Solution

1. Step 1: Check array size and indexing

   The array has 3 elements with indices 0, 1, 2. Accessing index 3 is out of bounds.

2. Step 2: Understand runtime behavior

   Assigning arr[3] = 4 causes an IndexOutOfBoundsException at runtime.

3. Final Answer:

   IndexOutOfBoundsException at arr[3] assignment -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Array indices must be within 0 to size-1 [OK]

Hint: Array indices go from 0 to size-1 only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to assign value outside array bounds
• Thinking array size auto-expands
• Confusing immutability with index errors

5. You want to create an array of size 4 where each element is its index squared (0, 1, 4, 9). Which Kotlin code correctly does this?

hard

A. val arr = Array(4) { index -> index * index }

B. val arr = arrayOf(4) { index -> index * index }

C. val arr = intArrayOf(4) { index -> index * index }

D. val arr = Array(4) { -> it * it }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand array initialization with lambda

   Kotlin's Array(size) { index -> value } creates an array where each element is initialized by the lambda using the index.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   val arr = Array(4) { index -> index * index } uses explicit lambda parameter index and correctly computes index squared. val arr = arrayOf(4) { index -> index * index } is invalid because arrayOf does not take a size and lambda. val arr = intArrayOf(4) { index -> index * index } is invalid syntax for the intArrayOf factory function. val arr = Array(4) { -> it * it } has invalid lambda syntax where it is undefined.

3. Final Answer:

   val arr = Array(4) { index -> index * index } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use Array(size) with index lambda for computed values [OK]

Hint: Use Array(size) with index lambda for computed elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing it with index in lambda
• Using arrayOf() for dynamic initialization
• Not using lambda for element computation