Which statement correctly defines the base address of an array?

In Java and most programming languages, the base address of an array refers to the memory location where the first element of the array is stored. This is crucial because when an array is created, the memory allocation begins at this initial point. The first element's address serves as a reference for accessing all other elements in the array through indexing.

When accessing an element by its index, the array's base address is used as a starting point, and the specified index determines how many memory locations away the requested item is located. Thus, knowing the correct base address is essential for effectively manipulating arrays in programming.

This understanding makes it clear why addressing the first element is fundamental when working with arrays, as the entire structure relies on this initial reference for all operations.