An array is a fundamental data structure in computer programming that allows the storage of multiple values of the same type in a single variable. Each value, known as an element, is stored in contiguous memory locations and can be accessed using an index, which represents its position within the array. Arrays are particularly useful for managing collections of data, enabling efficient data manipulation and retrieval. They can be of fixed size, meaning the number of elements is determined at the time of creation, and they can also be multidimensional, allowing for more complex data organization.