Java: Multi-dimensional array vs. one-dimensional

Question

For example:

• a) int [x][y][z]

  vs

• b) int[x*y*z]

Initi

Answer 1

If you choose the latter route then you're going to have to perform arithmetic for every single array access. That's going to be a pain and error prone (unless you wrap it in a class providing this functionality).

I don't believe that there's any (significant) optimisation in choosing your flat array (especially given the arithmetic taken to index into it). As always with optimisations, you would need to perform some measurements and determine if it's really worth it.