What happens when the rear pointer reaches the end of the array in the array representation of a queue?

When using an array representation for a queue, the rear pointer is used to indicate the position where a new element can be added. Here's what happens when the rear pointer reaches the end of the array:

1. Overflow Condition: If the rear pointer reaches the end of the array and there is still a need to enqueue more elements, the queue will encounter an overflow condition. This signifies that the queue cannot accommodate more elements unless elements are dequeued.

2. Cyclic Behavior: Many implementations of a queue utilize a circular array approach to utilize the available space efficiently. When the rear pointer reaches the end of the array, if there is space at the beginning of the array (due to dequeued elements), the rear pointer can wrap around to the start of the array and continue enqueueing.

3. Space Management: To manage the array space effectively, it is crucial to keep track of both the front and rear pointers. This tracking helps in determining whether the queue is empty or full, which influences where new elements can be added (in the case of a circular queue) or if the queue needs to be resized (in the case of a linear queue).

Overall, when the rear pointer reaches the end of the array, the next action depends on whether a circular array approach is used and whether there is available space in the queue. If neither condition is met, an overflow or full queue condition arises, necessitating either resizing the array or informing the user of the limitation.