All possible array initialization syntaxes

These are the current declaration and initialization methods for a simple array.

string[] array = new string[2]; // creates array of length 2, default valuesstring[] array = new string[] { "A", "B" }; // creates populated array of length 2string[] array = { "A" , "B" }; // creates populated array of length 2string[] array = new[] { "A", "B" }; // created populated array of length 2

Note that other techniques of obtaining arrays exist, such as the Linq ToArray() extensions on IEnumerable<T>.

Also note that in the declarations above, the first two could replace the string[] on the left with var (C# 3+), as the information on the right is enough to infer the proper type. The third line must be written as displayed, as array initialization syntax alone is not enough to satisfy the compiler's demands. The fourth could also use inference. So if you're into the whole brevity thing, the above could be written as

var array = new string[2]; // creates array of length 2, default valuesvar array = new string[] { "A", "B" }; // creates populated array of length 2string[] array = { "A" , "B" }; // creates populated array of length 2var array = new[] { "A", "B" }; // created populated array of length 2 

The array creation syntaxes in C# that are expressions are:

new int[3]new int[3] { 10, 20, 30 }new int[] { 10, 20, 30 }new[] { 10, 20, 30 }

In the first one, the size may be any non-negative integral value and the array elements are initialized to the default values.

In the second one, the size must be a constant and the number of elements given must match. There must be an implicit conversion from the given elements to the given array element type.

In the third one, the elements must be implicitly convertible to the element type, and the size is determined from the number of elements given.

In the fourth one the type of the array element is inferred by computing the best type, if there is one, of all the given elements that have types. All the elements must be implicitly convertible to that type. The size is determined from the number of elements given. This syntax was introduced in C# 3.0.

There is also a syntax which may only be used in a declaration:

int[] x = { 10, 20, 30 };

The elements must be implicitly convertible to the element type. The size is determined from the number of elements given.

there isn't an all-in-one guide

I refer you to C# 4.0 specification, section 7.6.10.4 "Array Creation Expressions".

Non-empty arrays

• var data0 = new int[3]

• var data1 = new int[3] { 1, 2, 3 }

• var data2 = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 }

• var data3 = new[] { 1, 2, 3 }

• var data4 = { 1, 2, 3 } is not compilable. Use int[] data5 = { 1, 2, 3 } instead.

Empty arrays

• var data6 = new int[0]
• var data7 = new int[] { }

• var data8 = new [] { } and int[] data9 = new [] { } are not compilable.

• var data10 = { } is not compilable. Use int[] data11 = { } instead.

As an argument of a method

Only expressions that can be assigned with the var keyword can be passed as arguments.

• Foo(new int[2])
• Foo(new int[2] { 1, 2 })
• Foo(new int[] { 1, 2 })
• Foo(new[] { 1, 2 })
• Foo({ 1, 2 }) is not compilable
• Foo(new int[0])
• Foo(new int[] { })
• Foo({}) is not compilable