What is an array?

An array is a data structure specifically designed to hold multiple values that are of the same type. This characteristic allows for efficient organization and access to a collection of data items. Each element of the array can be accessed via an index, and since all elements are of the same type, it ensures that the operations performed on them are consistent.

This uniformity in data type is crucial for performance and memory management, as arrays are often allocated in contiguous memory locations. Consequently, this structure facilitates operations such as iteration, searching, and sorting to be more effective compared to heterogeneous data structures.

The other definitions provided do not accurately encompass the characteristics or purpose of an array. For example, mentioning that an array can hold values of different types misunderstands the fundamental nature of arrays and can lead to confusion about how they function in programming contexts.