There are two applications that require using the NumPy array type in C extension modules:
Access to numerical libraries: Extension modules can be used to make numerical libraries written in C (or languages linkable to C, such as Fortran) accessible to Python programs. The NumPy array type has the advantage of using the same data layout as arrays in C and Fortran.
Mixed-language numerical code: In most numerical applications, only a small part of the total code is CPU time intensive. Only this part should thus be written in C, the rest can be written in Python. NumPy arrays are important for the interface between these two parts, because they provide equally simple access to their contents from Python and from C.
This document is a tutorial for using NumPy arrays in C extensions.
