How can I get the length of an array in C, I tried it how i get it in other languages but it doesn't work like this:
int array [5]; for(int i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {.. 
- Did you search it on Google?haccks– haccks2015-03-11 15:58:17 +00:00Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 15:58
- 2@haccks nope he didn'tArchie– Archie2015-03-11 15:58:46 +00:00Commented Mar 11, 2015 at 15:58
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2 Answers
If its on the stack, you can use the sizeof operator to determine its raw byte size:
int array[5]; size_t array_size = sizeof(array); But this gives you the size in bytes, not the number of elements. However, you can calculate the number of elements with this approach:
int array[5]; size_t array_elems = sizeof(array) / sizeof(* array); If you array is a pointer (e.g. function call or dynamic memory allocation) then you have to keep track it yourself!
Comments
size_t length = sizeof(array) / sizeof(array[0]); 5 Comments
lychee
downvote for correct solution?
AdrianHHH
Not my downvote. This answer is the same as that from @d3l but without any explanation. A good answer should explain why it is an answer. A short piece of code may be correct but it does not educate the asker.
lychee
but
size_t is typedef as unsigned long int
Marco
Maybe, but so can it be typedef'd as
unsigned int ;) Its implementation defined.
peterh
Not my downvote, but a copy-pasted code snippet is not enough.