Array Size Calculator
Calculate the exact memory footprint of arrays in C, C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, and C#. Includes data type sizes, language-specific overhead, and multi-dimensional array support.
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Accurately Calculate Array Memory Usage
Memory allocation for arrays varies significantly across programming languages. This calculator helps you determine exact memory requirements, understand language-specific overhead, and plan for multi-dimensional data structures.
How Array Memory is Calculated
Array memory usage consists of two parts: element storage (number of elements × size per element) and overhead (language-specific metadata like length field, object headers). Different languages handle arrays differently—C arrays are simple pointers, while Java arrays are objects with headers.
Array Memory Formula
Total Memory = (n × element_size) + overheadWhy Array Size Matters
Prevent Memory Overflow
A 1 million element int array in Java uses ~4MB for elements plus 16 bytes overhead. In Python, the same data might use 28MB due to object overhead per integer.
Optimize Performance
Knowing exact memory sizes helps you choose appropriate data types. Using byte instead of int for small values can reduce memory by 75%.
Cross-Language Development
When porting code between languages, memory characteristics change dramatically. Java char is 2 bytes (UTF-16), while C char is 1 byte.
Embedded & Mobile Development
Resource-constrained environments require precise memory planning. Understanding array overhead helps maximize available memory.
How to Use This Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Languages implement arrays differently. C arrays have zero overhead (just a pointer). Java arrays have 16 bytes overhead (object header + length). Python lists store object references plus a 56-byte list object, so a list of integers uses much more memory than a C int array.