Started fine, explained contiguous memory and index arithmetic (base + i * element_size), but then they pushed on alignment and I fumbled a bit.
Start with a clear definition of an array as a contiguous block of memory with fixed-size elements, then explain how this layout enables O(1) random access via index arithmetic. Contrast this with the O(n) cost of insertion/deletion due to shifting elements, and highlight how contiguity yields excellent cache locality and performance benefits.
Pro tip: Mention that while arrays have O(n) insertion/deletion in the worst case, appending at the end can be amortized O(1) in dynamic arrays, and that cache locality often makes arrays faster than linked lists even for operations with the same asymptotic complexity.
Explain that an array is a collection of elements of the same type stored in contiguous memory locations, with each element occupying a fixed size. The base address and index allow direct computation of any element's address.
State that access by index is O(1) because it's a simple address calculation. Insertion and deletion are O(n) in the worst case because elements must be shifted to maintain contiguity, though insertion/deletion at the end can be O(1) if space allows.
Describe how contiguous memory leads to spatial locality: accessing one element brings nearby elements into cache, reducing cache misses. This makes sequential access very fast and often outperforms linked structures despite similar asymptotic complexities.
Summarize that arrays are ideal for scenarios with frequent random access and infrequent insertions/deletions, and that cache efficiency is a key reason they are preferred in performance-critical code.
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