base type

The type of items which may be stored in an array - the array's defined type. For instance, in

 int[] numbers; 

the base type of numbers is int. Where the base type is a class type, it indicates the lowest super type of objects that may be stored in the array. For instance, in

 Ship[] berths; 

only instances of the Ship class may be stored in berths. If the base type of an array is Object, instances of any class may be stored in it.