May we put int [1][2] in place of [2][3] in the code below if not then why??🙄

Question

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
int a [2] [3] = {{1,2,3},{4,5,6}};
cout << a[0] [2];
return 0;
}

Answer 1

Hello Ravi,
`int a [2] [3] = {{1,2,3},{4,5,6}};`
This creates a 2 dimensional array, having 2 rows, with 3 columns at each row. First row {1,2,3} and second row {4,5,6}.
Now, if we change that into `int a [1] [2]` it doesn't really make sense, because this way, we'll have a 1 dimensional array having 2 columns. Why not just create a 1 dimensional array in the first place? `int a[2]` will result the same anyways, a 1 dimensional array of 2 columns.
I guess you may put it that way (I could be wrong), but it just doesn't really make sense, the subscript operator "[]" indicates dimension of the array; one [] means 1 dimension, two [] means 2 dimensions, etc. Why we want [][] when we can do with [] ??
Another note, you may get an error, if you're not being careful with indexes - when trying to print a certain element from the array <a>, after changing the row & column definition.
Hth, cmiiw

Answer 2

Thx