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How to store words in an array in C?

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We all know how to store a word or String, how to store characters in an array, etc. This article will help you understand how to store words in an array in C.

To store the words, a 2-D char array is required. In this 2-D array, each row will contain a word each. Hence the rows will denote the index number of the words and the column number will denote the particular character in that word.

  1. Direct initialization: In this method, the words are already known and the 2-D char array is created with these words directly.

    Syntax for Direct initialization:

    char array[][20] = {"Geek1", "Geek2", "Geek3", ..."};

    Syntax for accessing a word:

    Lets say we need to fetch the ith word:
    
    array[i]
    

    Below is the implementation of the above approach:




    // C program to store words in an array
      
    #include <stdio.h>
      
    int main()
    {
        int i;
      
        // Direct initialization of 2-D char array
        char array[][20] = { "Geek1", "Geek2", "Geek3" };
      
        // print the words
        for (i = 0; i < 3; i++)
            printf("%s\n", array[i]);
      
        return 0;
    }

    
    

    Output:

    Geek1
    Geek2
    Geek3
    
  2. By taking input from user: In this method, the number of words and words are given by the user and we have to create and map the 2-D char array for each word.

    Syntax:

    // Declaration of 2-D char array
    // where n is the number of words
    char array[n][20];
    
    // Initialization of 2-D char array
    for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
        scanf("%s", array[i]);
    

    Syntax for accessing a word:

    Lets say we need to fetch the ith word:
    
    array[i]
    

    Below is the implementation of the above approach:




    // C program to store words in an array
      
    #include <stdio.h>
      
    int main()
    {
        int i;
      
        // Lets say we have 3 words
        int n = 3;
      
        // Declaration of 2-D char array
        char array[n][20];
      
        // Initialization of 2-D char array
        for (i = 0; i < 3; i++)
            scanf("%s", array[i]);
      
        // print the words
        for (i = 0; i < 3; i++)
            printf("%s\n", array[i]);
      
        return 0;
    }

    
    

    Input:

    Geek1
    Geek2
    Geek3
    

    Output:

    Geek1
    Geek2
    Geek3
    


Last Updated : 18 Oct, 2019
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