Wednesday, June 10, 2026
HomeLanguagesJavaDetermine the Upper Bound of a Two Dimensional Array in Java

Determine the Upper Bound of a Two Dimensional Array in Java

Multidimensional arrays in Java are common and can be termed as an array of arrays. Data in a two-dimensional array in Java is stored in 2D tabular form. A two-dimensional array is the simplest form of a multidimensional array. A two-dimensional array can be seen as an array of the one-dimensional array for easier understanding. A two-dimensional array is declared with two dimensions that are also referred to as their bounds. 
 

Syntax of an Array of Arrays:

data_type[][] array_name = new data_type[x][y];

For example: int[][] arr = new int[20][30];    // 20 X 30 array of arrays

Direct Declaration of an Array of Arrays:

data_type[][] array_name = {
{valueR1C1, valueR1C2, ....},
{valueR2C1, valueR2C2, ....}
};

For example: int[][] arr = {{1, 2}, {3, 4}};

Allocation of values in an Array of Arrays

Java




// Allocation of values in an Array of Arrays
class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
  
        int[][] arr = new int[20][30];
        arr[0][0] = 100;
  
        System.out.println("arr[0][0] = " + arr[0][0]);
    }
}


Output

arr[0][0] = 100

 

Printing complete Array of Arrays

Java




// Printing complete Array of Arrays
class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
  
        int[][] arr = { { 1, 2 }, { 3, 4 } };
  
        for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
            for (int j = 0; j < 2; j++)
                System.out.println("arr[" + i + "][" + j
                                   + "] = " + arr[i][j]);
    }
}


Output

arr[0][0] = 1
arr[0][1] = 2
arr[1][0] = 3
arr[1][1] = 4

An array of Arrays in java is actually an array of a one-dimensional array. Each row of a two-dimensional array has a length field that holds the number of columns. However, we can get both the row upper bound and the column dimensions using:

int row_bound = array_name.length;
int column_bound = array_name[0].length;

Determine the Dimension of an Array of Arrays

Java




// Determine the Dimension of an Array of Arrays
class GFG {
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int[][] arr = new int[10][20];
        int row_bound = arr.length;
        int column_bound = arr[0].length;
        System.out.println("Dimension 1: " + row_bound);
        System.out.println("Dimension 2: " + column_bound);
    }
}


Output

Dimension 1: 10
Dimension 2: 20

 

Note: It is important to understand that Java doesn’t really have two-dimensional arrays. Java arrays are inherently jagged. It has arrays of arrays. So there is no one upper bound/length of the column level.

Example:

Java




// row bound and column bounds
class GFG {
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int[][] arr = { { 1, 2 },
                        { 3 },
                        { 4 },
                        { 5, 6, 7, 8 },
                        { 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 } };
        int row_bound = arr.length;
        int column_bound1 = arr[0].length;
        int column_bound2 = arr[1].length;
        int column_bound5 = arr[4].length;
        System.out.println("Dimension 1: " + row_bound);
        System.out.println("Dimension 2: " + column_bound1);
        System.out.println("Dimension 3: " + column_bound2);
        System.out.println("Dimension 4: " + column_bound5);
    }
}


Output

Dimension 1: 5
Dimension 2: 2
Dimension 3: 1
Dimension 4: 7
RELATED ARTICLES

1 COMMENT

Most Popular

Dominic
32515 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
131 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6896 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
12012 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
12109 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
7019 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7262 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6976 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6963 POSTS0 COMMENTS