How is the array data structure implemented in memory?

In C#, arrays are implemented as objects on the managed heap. In memory, an array is stored as a contiguous block of elements of the same type, which provides fast access by index.

The structure in memory is roughly as follows:

• Object header (metadata, type information, and array length).
• A field with the array length (int).
• A contiguous block of array elements.

For example, an int[] array contains all int values consecutively, allowing quick access to elements by offset from the start of the array.

This allows arrays to be used efficiently for storing data with constant-time access to elements by index.