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0-indexed language

Definition

A 0-indexed language is a programming language where arrays and other data structures start counting from 0 instead of 1. In these languages, the first element is accessed with an index of 0.

Analogy

Imagine you are at a concert with numbered seats. In a 0-indexed language, seat number 1 would actually be referred to as seat number 0. So if someone asks you to sit in seat number 3, you would count starting from seat number 0 and end up sitting in what others might call seat number 2.

Related terms

Indexing error: An error that occurs when accessing an element outside the valid range of indices in an array or other data structure.

Off-by-one error: A common mistake where programmers accidentally use incorrect indices due to confusion between zero-based indexing and one-based indexing.

Loop iteration: The process of repeatedly executing code based on incrementing or decrementing an index variable.



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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.