Multidimensional arrays

[shuba gopal]

In K & B SCJP 6, solution I came across a statement "Multidimensional arrays' dimension can be inconsistent". Does it mean that the individual arrays of an array of arrays can have different dimensions? The following is the program:

public class Twisty {
{ index = 1; }
int index;
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Twisty().go();
}
void go() {
int [][] dd = {{9,8,7}, {6,5,4}, {3,2,1,0}};
System.out.println(dd[index++][index++]);
}
}
[code=java]

Does the statement refer to the fact that dd has arrays with 3 and 4 elements?

The solution is 4 (dd[1][2])

[Wouter Oet]

Yes that is correct. The size of an int[][] doesn't have to be a square. Example

int[][] integers = new int[2][];
integers[0] = new int[3];
integers[1] = new int[9];

[shuba gopal]

Thanks Wouter

[Rob Spoor]

That's why a lot of people don't like the term "multidimensional arrays". They are arrays of arrays (of arrays etc).