Data Structures Vector

10.2.1 Array

An Array is a collection of elements. It has one type parameter which corresponds to the type of these elements. Arrays can be created in three ways:

By using their constructor: new Array()
By using array declaration syntax: [1, 2, 3]
By using array comprehension: [for (i in 0...10) if (i % 2 == 0) i]

Arrays come with an API to cover most use-cases. Additionally they allow read and write array access:

class Main {
  static public function main() {
    var a = [1, 2, 3];
    trace(a[1]); // 2
    a[1] = 1;
    trace(a[1]); // 1
  }
}

Since array access in Haxe is unbounded, i.e. it is guaranteed to not throw an exception, this requires further discussion:

If a read access is made on a non-existing index, a target-dependent value is returned.
If a write access is made with a positive index which is out of bounds, null (or the default value for basic types on static targets) is inserted at all positions between the last defined index and the newly written one.
If a write access is made with a negative index, the result is unspecified.

Arrays define an iterator over their elements. This iteration is typically optimized by the compiler to use a while loop with array index:

class Main {
  static public function main() {
    var scores = [110, 170, 35];
    var sum = 0;
    for (score in scores) {
      sum += score;
    }
    trace(sum); // 315
  }
}

Haxe generates this optimized JavaScript output:

Main.main = function() {
    var scores = [110,170,35];
    var sum = 0;
    var _g = 0;
    while(_g < scores.length) {
        var score = scores[_g];
        ++_g;
        sum += score;
    }
    console.log(sum);
};

Haxe does not allow arrays of mixed types unless the parameter type is forced to Dynamic:

class Main {
  static public function main() {
    // Compile Error: Arrays of mixed types are only allowed if the type is
    // forced to Array<Dynamic>
    // var myArray = [10, "Bob", false];

    // Array<Dynamic> with mixed types
    var myExplicitArray:Array<Dynamic> = [10, "Sally", true];
  }
}

Trivia: Dynamic Arrays

In Haxe 2, mixed type array declarations were allowed. In Haxe 3, arrays can have mixed types only if they are explicitly declared as Array<Dynamic>.