What defines a jagged array?

A jagged array is specifically defined as an array whose elements are themselves arrays, and these individual arrays can have varying lengths. This structure allows for a more flexible and dynamic allocation of space compared to traditional multi-dimensional arrays, where each dimension must have the same size.

In the context of programming, jagged arrays allow for more efficient use of memory when the data to be stored requires different amounts of space. For instance, if you are organizing data about students in different grades where some grades have more students than others, a jagged array can accommodate this variability neatly by storing arrays of different lengths for each grade, rather than forcing all grades to have the same number of entries.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what a jagged array is:

• An array with constant size elements refers to uniform arrays, which do not allow for the flexibility in size that jagged arrays provide.

• A multi-dimensional array with equal dimensions describes a rectangular array, where each row and column contains the same number of elements.

• An array containing only primitive data types indicates a standard array structure that does not have the nested variability that characterizes jagged arrays.

Therefore, option C is the correct choice as it precisely reflects the unique structure and characteristics