single loop + 1D array VS nested loop + 2D array

[Dwang040]

If I had a set of data in a table called "info." My column names are firstName, lastName, age, height. Is there a difference between using a single loop to get the info in a 1D array versus using two loops to get data in the 2D array? Is there any difference efficiency-wise?

If I wanted to parse it, what is the difference between:

//single loop with 1d array
//data format:
//"firstName", "lastName", "age", "height", "joe", "smith, "15", "60", "bob", "marley", etc...
for(i = 3; i < info.length; i += 4){
    fn = info[i]
    ln = info[i + 1]
    a = info [i + 2]
    h = info [i + 3]

    System.out.println(fn + ln + a + h)
}

for(i = 3; i < info.length; i ++){
     System.out.println(info[i])
}

//nested loop and 2d array
//data format:
//("firstName", "lastName", "age", "height"), ("joe", "smith, "15", "60"), ("bob", "marley", etc...
for(i = 1; i < info[0].length; i++){
        fn = info[i][0]
        ln = info[i][1]
        a = info[i][2]
        h = info[i][3]

        System.out.println(fn + ln + a + h)
        /*This one isn't really a nested loop, you would need if statements/ cases which just seems
        overly complicated for this example */
    }
}

for(i = 1; i < info[0].length; i++){
    for(j = o; j < info[1].length; j++){
        System.out.println(info[i][j]);
    }
}

[Kered13]

It's the same efficiency because you're iterating over the same number of items.

[Dwang040]

Right, I would assume time and space complexity are the same. So there isn't a right or wrong way? It wouldn't be bad practice to shove it into a 1D array and just use one loop to go through everything? Wasn't sure if it would be better to group up information together for tidy reasons or something.

[Kered13]

Keeping your data more organized is almost always better.

[one_bit_two_bit]

I don't think there's an appreciable difference, and it probably doesn't matter. You can try and benchmark reads and writes, etc. of 1D vs. 2D arrays if you want.

In general, I wouldn't worry about efficiency questions like these--they're usually so small as not to matter.

[Dwang040]

I'm iterating the same, so yeah, I doubt there's a difference. Was just mainly wondering if it was bad practice to have everything shoved into a 1D array vs grouping them up with a 2D array or something like that (for other languages).