Array Vs Structure in C Programming.

In this tutorial section Lets learn the Important main difference between a structure and an array. The difference between array and structure lies in their flexibility and data storage .
Structure allow to store different data types where as array allows to store elements of same type . Both the Structure and array are used to store the data items.Both of them serve as data containers, which enables various operations to be performed on the stored data for generating useful results.
At the time of array declaration the size of array can be defined using square brackets, where as structure sizes are determined or mentioned by the number of elements declared within the structure. Now, let’s Once more understand array and structure.
Array: An array in C programming is a collection of homogenous elements, i.e. group of same data type. An Arrays are declared using subscripts operator '[]' (square brackets). '[ ]' (square brackets) is also used to access the elements in an Array. An array internally act as pointer that points to the first element of an Array.
Syntax:
data_type name_of_array[size];
Structure:Collection of dissimilar data types or group of heterogeneous elements is known as structure. The 'struct keyword is used to declare a structure. And '.' dot operator is used to access the structure elements.
Syntax:
struct Name_of_structure {
dataType struct_member1;
dataType struct_member2;
...
};

Difference Between Array and Structure in C Programming Language.

Let us study in detail the difference between array and structure from the given diagram.
1. Data Types:
Array: 1. Array is non primitive data types.
The non-primitive data type is a kind of data type that can hold multiple values either in a random location or contiguous .The programmer can defines the non-primitive data types. The C language supports two categories of non-primitive data types , i.e Linear and non linear data structure.
Structure: 1. Structure is a user defined data type.
Structure is a User-defined data types , which are defined by the programmer or user with the help of available data types. The user can develope a custome data types by simply using or extending the predefined or built-in data types. The alternate name for the user-defined data type is derived datatype.
2. Declaration:
Array: 2. Array declartion is done with [] operator.
Arrays in c is defined by mentioning the size or the numbers of elements. The size of the array indicates or specifies the total number of elements that the array can hold.
The [] subscript operator is used while declaring an array.
eg. int n[5];
Structure: 2. The structure declaration done with help of 'struct' Keyword.
To Group of dissimilar data types to a single data type, the struct keyword is used. The keyword struct is used to define the structure data type. The general syntax of the struct data type is given below,
struct struct-Name //defining the structure
{
dataType member; /*declaration of the structure members*/
};

3. Traversal and Searching :
Traversing is the process of iterating the data structure from start to end in specific order.
Searching means the process of looking or finding for some information or elements in a data structure by traversing from start to end
Array: Array traversing and searching easy and very fast.
Structure: Structure traversing and searching Complex and slow.
4. Bitfield: In C programming language, a bit field is a data structure that allows the programmer to allocate memory to union and structures in bits in order to utilize computer memory in an efficient way.Since unions and structures are user-defined data types , the programmer has an idea of how much memory will they occupy. Memory management becomes very easy and efficient using bit fields.
Array: Bit Field is not possible in an array.
Structure: Bit Field is possible in a structure.
5. i. Homogeneous Data type:The homogeneous data type or structures are the type in which the data elements have the same data type. All the data elements belong to single data type.
For example: Arrays.
ii. Heterogeneous Data Type:Heterogeneous data structures in C are data structures that contain diverse types of data elements , such as doubles,integers, and floats.
Array: 5. Array is a collection of elements of homogeneous data type.
Structure: 5.Structure is a collection of elements of heterogeneous data type.
6.Element Access:Reading elements of a array or structure in C programming is known as Accessing Elements.
Array: 6. Array uses subsrcipt [] for element access.
Structure: 6. Structure uses . (dot) for element access.

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