Array variables are created automatically when they are accessed

[me@linuxbox ~]$ a[1]=foo
[me@linuxbox ~]$ echo ${a[1]}
foo

Arrays can also be created with the declare command. declare -a a

Arrays can also be created at the same time as values are values are added days=(Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat) Note: can specify indexes days=([0]=Sun [1]=Mon [2]=Tue [3]=Wed [4]=Thu [5]=Fri [6]=Sat)