How to Declare an Array in JavaScript ?

In Javascript, Arrays can contain any type of data, numbers, strings, booleans, objects, etc. But typically all elements are of the same type.

Arrays can be single-dimensional with one level of elements, or multi-dimensional with nested arrays.

Following are the ways to declare an Array in JavaScript:

Approach 1: Using Array Literal

Array literals use square brackets to enclose comma-separated elements for initializing arrays in JavaScript.

Syntax:

const arrayName = [element1, element2, element3];

Example: This example shows the different types of array declaration.

Javascript

// Number array
const numbers = [56, 74, 32, 45];

// String array
const courses = ["Javascript",
    "Python", "Java"];

// Empty array
const empty = [];

// Multidimensional array
const matrix = [
    [0, 1],
    [2, 3],
];
console.log(numbers);
console.log(courses);
console.log(empty);
console.log(matrix);

Output

[ 56, 74, 32, 45 ]
[ 'Javascript', 'Python', 'Java' ]
[]
[ [ 0, 1 ], [ 2, 3 ] ]

Approach 2: Using Array constructor

The Array constructor allows dynamically creating arrays and setting their initial state. It allows passing in elements as arguments to populate the array. If no arguments are passed, an empty array is created.

Syntax:

const arrayName = Array(element0, element1, ..., elementN);

Example: This example shows the declaration of an array using the array constructor.

Javascript

// Number array
const numbers = Array(56, 74, 32, 45);

// String array
const courses = Array("Javascript",
    "Python", "Java");

// Empty array
const empty = Array();

// Multidimensional array
const matrix = Array([
    [0, 1],
    [2, 3],
]);

console.log(numbers);
console.log(courses);
console.log(empty);
console.log(matrix);

Output

[ 56, 74, 32, 45 ]
[ 'Javascript', 'Python', 'Java' ]
[]
[ [ [ 0, 1 ], [ 2, 3 ] ] ]

Approach 3: Using new keyword

The new Array() constructor initializes the array and returns a reference to the array object. It can be used to create arrays of different data types like numbers, strings, nested arrays etc.

Syntax:

const arrayName = new Array(element0, element1, ..., elementN);

Example: This example shows that we can create an array using new keyword also.

Javascript

// Number array
const numbers = new Array(56, 74, 32, 45);

// String array
const courses = new Array("Javascript",
    "Python", "Java");

// Empty array
const empty = new Array();

// Multidimensional array
const matrix = new Array([
    [0, 1],
    [2, 3],
]);

console.log(numbers);
console.log(courses);
console.log(empty);
console.log(matrix);

Output

[ 56, 74, 32, 45 ]
[ 'Javascript', 'Python', 'Java' ]
[]
[ [ [ 0, 1 ], [ 2, 3 ] ] ]