File: gawk.info,  Node: Arrays,  Next: Functions,  Prev: Patterns and Actions,  Up: Top

8 Arrays in 'awk'
*****************

An "array" is a table of values called "elements".  The elements of an
array are distinguished by their "indices".  Indices may be either
numbers or strings.

   This major node describes how arrays work in 'awk', how to use array
elements, how to scan through every element in an array, and how to
remove array elements.  It also describes how 'awk' simulates
multidimensional arrays, as well as some of the less obvious points
about array usage.  The major node moves on to discuss 'gawk''s facility
for sorting arrays, and ends with a brief description of 'gawk''s
ability to support true arrays of arrays.

* Menu:

* Array Basics::                The basics of arrays.
* Numeric Array Subscripts::    How to use numbers as subscripts in
                                'awk'.
* Uninitialized Subscripts::    Using Uninitialized variables as subscripts.
* Delete::                      The 'delete' statement removes an element
                                from an array.
* Multidimensional::            Emulating multidimensional arrays in
                                'awk'.
* Arrays of Arrays::            True multidimensional arrays.
* Arrays Summary::              Summary of arrays.