# Referencing Elements in Dynamic Arrays

In ColdFusion, array indexes are counted starting with position 1, which means that position 1 is referenced as `firstname[1]`.

Let's add to the current firstname array example. For 2D arrays, you reference an index by specifying two coordinates: `myarray[1][1]`.

    <!--- This example adds a 1D array to a 1D array --->

    <CFSET firstname=ArrayNew(1)>

    <CFSET firstname[1]="Coleman">
    <CFSET firstname[2]="Charlie">
    <CFSET firstname[3]="Dexter">

    <!--- First, declare the array --->

    <CFSET fullname=ArrayNew(1)>

    <!--- Then, add the firstname array to
    index 1 of the fullname array --->

    <CFSET fullname[1]=firstname>

    <!--- Now we'll add the last names for symmetry --->

    <CFSET fullname[2][1]="Hawkins">
    <CFSET fullname[2][2]="Parker">
    <CFSET fullname[2][3]="Gordon">

    <CFOUTPUT>
        #fullname[1][1]# #fullname[2][1]#<BR>
        #fullname[1][2]# #fullname[2][2]#<BR>
        #fullname[1][3]# #fullname[2][3]#<BR>
    </CFOUTPUT>

## Additional referencing methods

You can reference array indexes in the standard way: myarray[x] where x is the index you want to reference. You can also use ColdFusion expressions inside the square brackets to reference an index. The following are valid ways of referencing an array index:

    <CFSET myarray[1]=expression>
    <CFSET myarray[1 + 1]=expression>
    <CFSET myarray[arrayindex]=expression>