npm package: @stdlib/ndarray-empty
Description: Create an uninitialized ndarray having a specified shape and data type.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.3.1

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<details>
  <summary>
    About stdlib...
  </summary>
  <p>We believe in a future in which the web is a preferred environment for numerical computation. To help realize this future, we've built stdlib. stdlib is a standard library, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computation, written in JavaScript (and C) for execution in browsers and in Node.js.</p>
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</details>

# empty

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Create an uninitialized [ndarray][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor] having a specified shape and [data type][@stdlib/ndarray/dtypes].

<!-- Section to include introductory text. Make sure to keep an empty line after the intro `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="intro">

</section>

<!-- /.intro -->

<!-- Package usage documentation. -->

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/ndarray-empty
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var empty = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-empty' );
```

#### empty( shape\[, options] )

Creates an uninitialized [ndarray][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor] having a specified shape and [data type][@stdlib/ndarray/dtypes].

```javascript
var arr = empty( [ 2, 2 ] );
// returns <ndarray>

var sh = arr.shape;
// returns [ 2, 2 ]

var dt = arr.dtype;
// returns 'float64'
```

The specified output [ndarray][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor] `shape` may be either an array-like object or an integer value.

```javascript
var arr = empty( 2 );
// returns <ndarray>

var sh = arr.shape;
// returns [ 2 ]

var dt = arr.dtype;
// returns 'float64'
```

The function accepts the following `options`:

-   **dtype**: underlying [data type][@stdlib/ndarray/dtypes]. Default: `'float64'`.
-   **order**: specifies whether an [ndarray][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor] is `'row-major'` (C-style) or `'column-major'` (Fortran-style). Default: `'row-major'`.
-   **mode**: specifies how to handle indices which exceed array dimensions (see [`ndarray`][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor]). Default: `'throw'`.
-   **submode**: a mode array which specifies for each dimension how to handle subscripts which exceed array dimensions  (see [`ndarray`][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor]). If provided fewer modes than dimensions, the constructor recycles modes using modulo arithmetic. Default: `[ options.mode ]`.

By default, the function returns an [ndarray][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor] having a [`float64`][@stdlib/ndarray/dtypes] data type. To specify an alternative [data type][@stdlib/ndarray/dtypes], provide a `dtype` option.

```javascript
var arr = empty( [ 2, 2 ], {
    'dtype': 'float32'
});
// returns <ndarray>

var sh = arr.shape;
// returns [ 2, 2 ]

var dt = arr.dtype;
// returns 'float32'
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<!-- Package usage notes. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="notes">

## Notes

-   If the `dtype` option is `'generic'`, the function always returns a zero-filled ndarray.
-   For returned [ndarrays][@stdlib/ndarray/ctor] whose underlying memory is **not** initialized, memory contents are unknown and may contain **sensitive** data.

</section>

<!-- /.notes -->

<!-- Package usage examples. -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var dtypes = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-dtypes' );
var empty = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-empty' );

// Get a list of data types:
var dt = dtypes();

// Generate uninitialized arrays...
var arr;
var i;
for ( i = 0; i < dt.length; i++ ) {
    arr = empty( [ 2, 2 ], {
        'dtype': dt[ i ]
    });
    console.log( arr.data );
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

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<section class="references">

</section>

<!-- /.references -->

<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

* * *

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/ndarray-empty-like`][@stdlib/ndarray/empty-like]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">create an uninitialized ndarray having the same shape and data type as a provided ndarray.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/ndarray-zeros`][@stdlib/ndarray/zeros]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">create a zero-filled ndarray having a specified shape and data type.</span>

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

<!-- Section for all links. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->


<section class="main-repo" >

* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

#### Community

[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

</section>

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[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
[es-module]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules

[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/ndarray-empty/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/ndarray-empty/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/ndarray-empty/tree/umd
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[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/ndarray-empty/main/LICENSE

[@stdlib/ndarray/ctor]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/ndarray-ctor

[@stdlib/ndarray/dtypes]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/ndarray-dtypes

<!-- <related-links> -->

[@stdlib/ndarray/empty-like]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/ndarray-empty-like

[@stdlib/ndarray/zeros]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/ndarray-zeros

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</section>

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