An array is an indexed collection of data elements of the same type.
1)  Indexed means that the array elements are numbered (starting at 0).
2)  The restriction of the same type is an important one, because arrays are stored in consecutive memory cells.  Every cell must be the same type (and therefore, the same size).

A variable is a storage area holding a number or text. The problem is, a variable will hold only one value.

An array is a special variable, which can store multiple values in one single variable.