Jo identifier. Just 11.01 What is an Array? under a sing) : AN array isa data structure that can hold a set of data items on holds data of a specific 28 a Variable holds data and is identified by a name, so an att ay 2 ‘7 hold one data value type and is referred to by its name or label While avariable can ony ATT, of 9 an array can hold several values. For example, f you wished {0 store array. students you could either do this in 25 variables or a single of An array is an example of a container data type. Python does not support arrays ae 7 the box. If arrays are required then the array built-in library must be imported first, lled tuples, lists and because Python has a rich set of alternative container data types ca j dictionaries. You will see later in this chapter that the Python version of the FOR loop is designed to work very closely with these container data types. {tis recommended that, when implementing your pseudocode and flowchart sol Python, you use lists to replicate arrays. A list can do everything an array can do and more. For example, lists are able to store a variety of data types at the same time and can be lengthened or shortened as required. Itis worth noting that, although lists are more flexible than arrays, arrays are more efficient for most simple processes. 11.02 Declaring an Array Declaring an array is a similar process to declaring a variable. The difference is that you need to define the size of the array, determined by the number of data items that the array is required to hold, Each individual value held within an array is identified by an index number, Index numbers are sequential and, in Python, as with many other programming | ‘ lany the numbering starts from zero. 6 languages, Table 11.01 is a diagrammatic representation of an array designed to hold the of the Greek alphabet. le first five letters, Table 11.01 The pseudocode format for declaring an array capable of hold Note how the range of indices is 0 to 4: ing the five values is as follows, Not all languages number array items from zero and yoy may see ay start from 1. In this erample the final index would then becomes example of arrays that i at ‘Scanned with CamScannergreek heter[i 5) OF String When writing pseudoco, hod of ny is following pseudocode must 2150 follow that format and the ith data item in “tw de, either met table; ho ner itis vital to array is declare (0:4) then the * data item held in index index, th the first Ber The syntax for declaring a ist (the a "2Y substitute recommended forimplementn jour algorithms in Python) is. a my_list = (None]+4 Python’ ist container does nothave tos that the syntax for *0t@ 2 declared number of data items, This means Seun& an empty list ofa given length dove not look a lot ike the declaration, The code Pseudocode array above creates an array with four empty data spaces andis equivalent to in pseudocode. Ifyou are not sure how thi is works, start an interactive session and enter the line of code above. To see what has been created add the following line Print (my list) FURTHER INFORMATION Python programmers would normally just declare an empty list such as my list = () towhich data items can be added as required. imei, nin fay that is ready filled with content. In fate an arr ‘AtSome point you will want to creat Pseudocode, it is achieved like this: abel ale. Ireck letters = (Alpha, Bett, Gamma Delis Ps ‘Scanned with CamScannerROSSER Race UU aa the: strings. In Python, t This is now a Predefined array with five spaces that will only store String equivalent code would be ilon'] a', ‘Eps. S¥eek letters = ['alpha', ‘petat, ‘Gamma’, "Delta 11.04 Using Arrays Arrays offer programmers advantages over simple variables. Many data items to be stored under a single identifier. They to reference any individual data item by the appropriate array ind “ to perform read, write or search operations by looping through the data items. arrays particularly effective when working with data records Satrrrcs ‘As we have seen, they allow give the programmer the ability jex and to use iteration his makes, standing ofthe use ofa variable To read a data item, you reference it by the array name and the index number. For example, holds the data item ‘Gamma’, The same logic applies when writing values to an array. The following code would writ the leter‘Cto the spected index position, replacing the original data item: The syntax in Python for these two operations, using lists, i identical to the Pseudocod: le. a Reading and Writing Data Items Integer array . Declare an artay named task’ that capable of holding four integers, Wi userto input an negro selected ray postion. Then add code to sng coe 1 OW the the value held in a selected array position, 'e User to output Dare Bure 11.01(b) shows the Ponding pseudocode for Figure 11.01(a) shows the flowchart for the input process and fi flowchart for the output process. Figure 11.02 shows the corres these processes. ‘Scanned with CamScannerInput index data_item tasklinder) ourrut tasklindex) (a) (b) ata_item Figure 11.01 Array input (a) and output (b) flowchart M Input Pseudocode 1 Oulu Pseudocode task{0:3] INPUT index INPUT index, data_item ourPur task index) task[index] — data_item Figure 11.02 Array input and output pseudocode The interface could be AP ed to produce the system. : Foe ete 1103. Bit sina the subroutines foreach of the input and designed as shown in Figure 11.03. i ‘aout and display the output. As the functions output processes. Entry widgets accept the inpu' are so. angi the oe ny bas been taken to demonstrate a little more tkinter GUI code. LSet) Output Display: Item to Add: Value in Index: Cd Index to be Used: Figure 1.03 a Gul interface desien ‘Scanned with CamScanner