ArrayisArrayvalue

ArrayisArrayvalue is a term used in programming to describe a predicate or function that determines whether a given value is an array. In its typical form, it accepts a single input and returns a boolean: true if the input is an array, false otherwise. The concept helps separate array values from other data types such as primitives, plain objects, strings, or array-like structures.

In different programming ecosystems, similar checks exist under different names. For example, JavaScript provides Array.isArray(value); Python uses isinstance(value, list); PHP offers is_array(value); and Java provides multiple reflection-based checks to determine if a value represents an array type. The exact implementation of ArrayisArrayvalue can vary, but the underlying goal is consistent: perform a runtime type check to identify true array objects.

Common uses include input validation, type dispatch, or branching logic where array-specific operations (iteration, mapping, reduction) are needed. It is important to distinguish true arrays from array-like objects that expose a length property and numeric indices but do not implement the full array interface.

Edge cases include null or undefined values in loosely typed languages, sparse arrays, and typed arrays that may or may not be considered arrays depending on the language. When documenting or exposing ArrayisArrayvalue, it is helpful to specify the exact type semantics and any platform-specific behavior. See also: Array.isArray, type checking, and data-validation practices.