Get length of array in C and C++

Reading time: 20 minutes | Coding time: 5 minutes

Unlike other languages where array is defined by the starting memory address, datatype and the length of the array, in C, array is a similar pointer to a memory location which is the starting memory address. We need to use the sizeof operator in C/ C++ to achieve this.

The key idea of getting the length of an array in C or C++ is:

int length = sizeof(array)/sizeof(<data_type of the array>);

// length = total size of array / size of an array element

For Integer array, we can find the length as follows:

int length = sizeof(array)/sizeof(int);

This works with array of user defined objects (in C++) and struct (in C and C++) as well. We will demonstrate this on the following examples:

• Array of Integer
• Array of Character
• Array of Struct
• Array of user defined object (in C++)

We will go through each example in detail.

Array of Integer

In this example, we will understand how to get the length of an array of integers. We defined an array of integers like this:

int array[] = {1, 3, 2};

Following this, we found the length of the array as follows:

int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(int);

Following is the complete C example:

// Part of OpenGenus IQ
#include<stdio.h>
int main() 
{
    // define sample array	
	int array[] = {1, 3, 2};
	// get length of array as explained by OpenGenus
	int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(int);
	// print length of array
	printf("Length of array is %d\n", length);
	return 0;
}

Output:

Length of array is 3

Array of Character

In this example, we will understand how to get the length of an array of characters. We defined an array of characters like this:

char array[] = {'o', 'p', 'e', 'n', 'g', 'e', 'n', 'u', 's'};

Following this, we found the length of the array as follows:

int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(char);

Following is the complete C example:

// Part of OpenGenus IQ
#include<stdio.h>
int main() 
{
    // define sample array	
	char array[] = {'o', 'p', 'e', 'n', 'g', 'e', 'n', 'u', 's'};
	// get length of array as explained by OpenGenus
	int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(char);
	// print length of array
	printf("Length of array is %d\n", length);
	return 0;
}

Output:

Length of array is 9

Array of struct

In this example, we will understand how to get the length of an array of struct. We defined a struct like this:

struct opengenus
{    
    int data; 
    float weigth;
};

We used the above struct to get an array of struct:

struct opengenus array[5];

Following this, we found the length of the array as follows:

int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(struct opengenus);

Following is the complete C example:

// Part of OpenGenus IQ
#include<stdio.h>
//define a struct
struct opengenus
{    
    int data; 
    float weigth;
};   
int main() 
{
    // define sample array	
	struct opengenus array[5]; 
	// fill in the array
	for(int i = 4; i>=0; i--)
	{
	    array[i].data = i;
	    array[i].weigth = i*2+0.1;
	}
	// get length of array as explained by OpenGenus
	int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(struct opengenus);
	// print length of array
	printf("Length of array is %d\n", length);
	return 0;
}

Output:

Length of array is 5

Array of User defined object in C++

In this example, we will understand how to get the length of an array of user defined objects. We defined a user defined class like this:

class opengenus 
{
   public:
      double data;   
      double weight; 
};

We used the above class to get an array of user defined objects:

opengenus array[6];

Following this, we found the length of the array as follows:

int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(opengenus);

Following is the complete C example:

// Part of OpenGenus IQ
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
//define a class
class opengenus 
{
   public:
      double data;   
      double weight; 
};
int main() 
{
    // define sample array	
	opengenus array[6]; 
	// fill in the array
	for(int i = 5; i>=0; i--)
	{
	    array[i].data = i;
	    array[i].weight = i*2+0.1;
	}
	// get length of array as explained by OpenGenus
	int length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(opengenus);
	// print length of array
	cout << "Length of array is " << length;
	return 0;
}

Output:

Length of array is 6

With this, you have the complete idea of getting the length of any array in C and C++ using sizeof operator. Enjoy.