Using int arrays faster than multiple ints?

So I'm making a cooking game and I'm trying to store how much you have in stock for each item/ingredient. Is it faster performance-wise to use an array of integers with each place in the array being an item and the value in that place being the amount you have of that item.. or is it faster to create multiple integers for each item instead of an array. Code organization wise the first is a whole lot better but I'm not really sure performance-wise.

Ex approach 1:

Code (CSharp):

1. public int[] itemsInStock = new int[40];
2.  
3. // itemsInStock[10] might store how many carrots you have
4. // itemsInStock[12] might store how much milk you have

Ex approach 2:

Code (CSharp):

1. public int carrotsInStock = 0;
2. public int milkInStock = 0;
3. public int almondsInStock = 0;
4. // and so on...

 

With 40 integers it isn't going to make a blind bit of difference.

Although, for your game organization you may want to use scriptable objects or a class for each item. You will want some way of identifying each ingredient rather than accessing an index in an array or individual variable.

 

Do you know of any tutorials on how to do this? I've never really worked with custom classes. Also, is the accessing an index method bad for performance?

 

I recommend an associative array. In C# they are called hashtables.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/do...e?redirectedfrom=MSDN&view=netframework-4.7.2
In that example the array openWith would be itemsInStock. The txt, bmp, dib, rtf would be carrots, milk, almonds. Then the last column would be how many.

 

Cool. What would you say the benefits are of using a hashtable vs an array?

 

So I did some research and according to the wiki page arrays are the fastest over hashtables so I think I'll stick with arrays since I'm developing for mobile: http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php/Choosing_the_right_collection_type#So_which_one_should_I_use.3F

Still interested in learning more about custom classes for each item though if anyone has any advice on tutorials or something.