How to store words in an array in C?

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