# ContiguousArray A contiguously stored array. ``` @frozen struct ContiguousArray ``` ## Overview The `ContiguousArray` type is a specialized array that always stores its elements in a contiguous region of memory. This contrasts with `Array`, which can store its elements in either a contiguous region of memory or an `NSArray` instance if its `Element` type is a class or `@objc` protocol. If your array’s `Element` type is a class or `@objc` protocol and you do not need to bridge the array to `NSArray` or pass the array to Objective-C APIs, using `ContiguousArray` may be more efficient and have more predictable performance than `Array`. If the array’s `Element` type is a struct or enumeration, `Array` and `ContiguousArray` should have similar efficiency. For more information about using arrays, see `Array` and `ArraySlice`, with which `ContiguousArray` shares most properties and methods. ## Relationships ### Conforms To [`Decodable`](/documentation/Swift/Decodable) [`Collection`](/documentation/Swift/Collection) [`CustomReflectable`](/documentation/Swift/CustomReflectable) [`Encodable`](/documentation/Swift/Encodable) [`SendableMetatype`](/documentation/Swift/SendableMetatype) [`RandomAccessCollection`](/documentation/Swift/RandomAccessCollection) [`OperationParameter`](/documentation/Accelerate/BNNSGraph/Builder/OperationParameter) [`CustomStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomStringConvertible) [`Equatable`](/documentation/Swift/Equatable) [`ContiguousBytes`](/documentation/Foundation/ContiguousBytes) [`AccelerateBuffer`](/documentation/Accelerate/AccelerateBuffer) [`Copyable`](/documentation/Swift/Copyable) [`DataProtocol`](/documentation/Foundation/DataProtocol) [`Hashable`](/documentation/Swift/Hashable) [`Sendable`](/documentation/Swift/Sendable) [`CustomDebugStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomDebugStringConvertible) [`Attachable`](/documentation/Testing/Attachable) [`Sequence`](/documentation/Swift/Sequence) [`RangeReplaceableCollection`](/documentation/Swift/RangeReplaceableCollection) [`ExpressibleByArrayLiteral`](/documentation/Swift/ExpressibleByArrayLiteral) [`BidirectionalCollection`](/documentation/Swift/BidirectionalCollection) [`AccelerateMutableBuffer`](/documentation/Accelerate/AccelerateMutableBuffer) [`MutableDataProtocol`](/documentation/Foundation/MutableDataProtocol) [`Escapable`](/documentation/Swift/Escapable) [`MutableCollection`](/documentation/Swift/MutableCollection) --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)