Which syntax is incorrect to initialize a two-dimensional array in Java?

Concept

In Java, a variable declaration fixes the variable’s type, while an initializer expression has its own type. An assignment is valid only when the initializer type is assignment-compatible with the declared variable type; a two-dimensional int array has type int[][].

Application

1. Read the declaration int myarr: it declares myarr as one scalar int.

2. Evaluate new int[3][4]: it creates an array of three int[] rows, each with four elements, so its type is int[][].

3. Compare the types: Java cannot assign an int[][] reference to an int variable, so int myarr = new int[3][4]; is a compile-time type error.

Contrast

• int myarr[][] = new int[3][4]; places the brackets after the variable name; myarr still has type int[][].

• int[][] myarr = {{1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6}}; declares int[][] and supplies a nested array initializer.

• int[][] myarr = new int[3][4]; declares int[][] and creates a matching int[][] value.

• Question not attempted records no submitted syntax and is not itself a Java initialization statement.

Cross-check

A Java compiler diagnoses the scalar declaration with an incompatible-types error because int[][] cannot be converted to int. Therefore, the incorrect syntax is int myarr = new int[3][4];.