Name
Array.Copy Method
Class
System.Array
Syntax
Array.Copy(sourceArray, destinationArray, length
) Array.Copy(sourceArray, sourceIndex, destinationArray, _
destinationIndex, length
)
-
sourceArray
Use: Required
Data Type: Any array
The array to be copied
-
sourceIndex
Use: Required in second overloaded version
Data Type: Integer
The index in
sourceArray
at which copying begins-
destinationArray
Use: Required
Data Type: Any array
The target array
-
destinationIndex
Use: Required in second overloaded version
Data Type: Integer
The index in
destinationArray
where the first element is to be copied-
length
Use: Required
Data Type: Integer
The number of elements to copy
Return Value
None
Description
Makes a copy of all or part of an array.
Since arrays are reference types, when we set one array variable equal to another, we are just assigning a new reference to the same array. For instance, consider the following code:
Dim a( ) As Integer = {1, 2, 3} Dim b( ) As Integer ' Array assignment b = a ' Change b b(0) = 10 ' Check a MsgBox(a(0)) 'Displays 10
The fact that changing b(0) also changes a(0) shows that a and b point to the same array.
Rules at a Glance
Using the first syntax, you can copy a range of values from the beginning of
sourceArray
to the beginning ofdestinationArray
. Using the second syntax, you can copy a range of values from anywhere indestinationArray
to anywhere intargetArray
.sourceArray
anddestinationArray
must have the same number of dimensions.length
is the total number of elements ...
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