Final answer:
Each row of a 2D array can have a different length, and such an array is known as a jagged array.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, each row of a 2D array can indeed have a different length. This type of data structure is commonly referred to as a jagged array, not a true multidimensional array. In programming languages such as Java and C#, arrays are objects, and each row is an independent object, which means that each row can be of a different length. For example:
- Row 1: [1, 2, 3]
- Row 2: [1, 2]
- Row 3: [1]
In a jagged array, you can think of the 'outer' array holding references to 'inner' arrays of varying lengths. This is in contrast to a 'rectangular' array where all rows (sub-arrays) must be of the same length.