Using 'length' array attribute with 2 dimensional arrays

Assuming that you have understood the array concepts from the above pre-requisite posts, I would like to explain how to use 'length' attribute to calculate the number of rows and number of columns in a 2 dimensional array.
Example of a 2 dimensional array -
int a[][] = new int[2][3];

Visual representation of the array -




To calculate the number of rows in this array we have to use -> a.length

To calculate the number of columns in first row of the array we have to use -> a[0].length

To calculate the number of columns in second row of the array we have to use -> a[1].length

In a 2D array, which is having the same number of columns in every row will give the same result for a[0].length and a[1].length

Lets implement this on Eclipse IDE -

1. Launch Eclipse IDE, create a new Java Project 'Project 018' as shown below -


2. Create a Java Class 'Class018' with main( ) method as shown below -



3. Declare a two dimensional array as shown below -



4. Using length attribute to calculate the number of rows and storing the result in the integer variable 'rows' as shown below -


5. Using length attribute to calculate the number of columns in the first row of the array and storing the result in the integer variable 'row1_columns' as shown below -


6. Using length attribute to calculate the number of columns in the second row of the array and storing the result in the integer varaible 'row2_columns' as shown below -


7. Print the calculated number of rows, number of columns in first and second rows as shown below -


8. Run the Java Class and observe that the following output is displayed under the Console as shown below -


This is how, we use the length attribute in a two dimensional array.

Using length attribute in a three dimensional array will be explained in the next post.