---
title: "6.11 Passing Two-Dimensional Arrays to Functions"
description: "A two-dimensional array can be passed to a function by specifying the number of columns in the parameter declaration. The function receives access to the array elements, while the row count can be supplied as a separate argument. ``` #include…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/c-functions/6-11-passing-two-dimensional-arrays-to-functions/"
updated: "2026-10-27"
category: C Programming / Functions
---

# 6.11 Passing Two-Dimensional Arrays to Functions

A two-dimensional array can be passed to a function by specifying the number of columns in the parameter declaration. The function receives access to the array elements, while the row count can be supplied as a separate argument.

```
#include <stdio.h>

void displayMatrix(int rows, int matrix[][3])
{
    for (int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
    {
        for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
        {
            printf("%d ", matrix[i][j]);
        }

        printf("\n");
    }
}

int main(void)
{
    int matrix[2][3] = {
        {10, 20, 30},
        {40, 50, 60}
    };

    displayMatrix(2, matrix);

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
10 20 30
40 50 60
```

### Explanation

The function parameter:

```
void displayMatrix(int rows, int matrix[][3])
```

specifies a two-dimensional array whose rows contain three integers. The first dimension is omitted because the function receives the row count separately.

The parameter `matrix[][3]` is adjusted to a pointer to an array of three integers. This preserves the row structure required for expressions such as `matrix[i][j]`.

The nested loops access each element using its row and column indices:

```
printf("%d ", matrix[i][j]);
```

The `rows` argument determines how many rows are processed, while the column count is fixed at three.

### Two-Dimensional Array Parameters

| Parameter declaration | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `int matrix[][3]` | Pointer to rows containing three integers |
| `int matrix[2][3]` | Adjusted parameter type is still a pointer to rows of three integers |
| `int matrix[][columns]` | Can use a variable-length array parameter when supported and `columns` is available |
| `const int matrix[][3]` | Allows reading elements without modifying them through this parameter |

The column dimension must be known to calculate the correct address for each row. In C99 and later, variable-length array parameters can be used to accept runtime column counts, subject to implementation support.