Accessing Array Elements

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's GDScript journey. Lesson 63 of 92.

Each element of an array has an index, its position in the array. Indexes start at 0, so the last index is the size minus one:

var letters := ["a", "b", "c", "d"]

"a" is at index 0
"b" is at index 1
"d" is at index 3

To read an element, write its index in square brackets after the array:

var scores := [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]
print(scores[2])

A negative index counts from the end: scores[-1] is the last element (50) and scores[-2] the one before it (40).

With a loop over range(scores.size()), the variable takes every index of the array, so you can read each element in turn:

for i in range(scores.size()):
	print(scores[i])

Reading an index that does not exist, like scores[5] in this 5-element array, stops the program with an error.

Challenge

Easy

The array inventory holds 6 items. The program reads a number count from the input (from 1 to 6).

Print the first count items, one per line. Use a loop over the indexes.
Then print Last: followed by the last item, read with a negative index.

For the input 3, the output is:

sword
shield
potion
Last: rope

Try it yourself

extends Node

func _ready():
	var inventory := ["sword", "shield", "potion", "map", "torch", "rope"]
	var count := int(OS.read_string_from_stdin())
	# Print the first count items, one per line
	# Then print "Last: " and the last item

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Fundamentals

2Variables Part 1

Numbers String Boolean Empty Variables Naming Conventions

5Operators Part 2

Logical Operators Part 1 Logical Operators Part 2 Recap - Simple Logic Logical Operators Part 3 Ternary Operator

8Bill Split Calculator

Welcome Message Getting Input

Calculating The Tip And Total

Splitting The Bill

Formatted Output

11FizzBuzz with a Twist

Game Overview The FizzBuzz Function

Looping The Numbers

Adding The Twist

14Arrays Advanced

Array Slicing Sequence Operators Membership Sort And Reverse

17Final Challenges

Flat Asterisk Pyramid Pattern Finder What To Buy

3Variables Part 2

Type Declaration Type Inference Constants Recap - Initialize Variables Type Casting

6Decision Making

If Statement If - Else Recap - Simple Calculator Nested If - Else Match Statement

9Loops

For Loop While Loop Break Continue Recap - Factorial The Range Function Nested Loop Recap - Dynamic Input

12Arrays Basics

Declaring an ArrayAccessing Array ElementsModifying Arrays Array Methods Recap - Product Array Recap - Reversed Array Typed Arrays

15Dictionaries

Creating Dictionaries Accessing Values Modifying Dictionaries Dictionary Methods Iterating Over Dictionaries Recap - Inventory Dictionary

Practice on your own: Online GDScript compiler