# Arrays

> Source: https://learn-bash.net/arrays/
> Part of Learn Bash, free to read.

An array can hold several values under one name. Array naming is the same as variables naming.
An array is initialized by assign space-delimited values enclosed in ()

```bash
my_array=(apple banana "Fruit Basket" orange)
new_array[2]=apricot
```

Array members need not be consecutive or contiguous. Some members of the array can be left uninitialized.

The total number of elements in the array is referenced by ${#arrayname[@]}

```bash
my_array=(apple banana "Fruit Basket" orange)
echo  ${#my_array[@]}                   # 4
```

The array elements can be accessed with their numeric index. The index of the first element is 0.

```bash
my_array=(apple banana "Fruit Basket" orange)
echo ${my_array[3]}                     # orange - note that curly brackets are needed
# adding another array element
my_array[4]="carrot"                    # value assignment without a $ and curly brackets
echo ${#my_array[@]}                    # 5
echo ${my_array[${#my_array[@]}-1]}     # carrot
```