What is ArrayList in Java?
ArrayList in Java is a data structure that can be stretched to accommodate additional elements within itself and shrink back to a smaller size when elements are removed. It is a very important data structure useful in handling the dynamic behavior of elements.
Wondering how ArrayList Java could be useful, see the below conversation –
For Java ArrayList Example, see the following picture of a man stretching an elastic rubber band.
The actual length of the rubber band is much smaller, but when stretched it can extend a lot more than its actual length and can be used to hold/bind much larger objects with it.
Now, consider the next picture, that of a simple rope, it cannot stretch and will have a fixed length.
It can grow as, and when required to accommodate the elements it needs to store and when elements are removed, it can shrink back to a smaller size.
So as our friend has an issue with the array he is using cannot be expanded or made to shrink, we will be using ArrayList.
Arrays are like the rope shown in the above picture; they will have a fixed length, cannot be expanded nor reduced from the original length.
So our stretchable rubber-band is much like the Array List whereas the rope can be considered as the array.
Technically speaking, ArrayList Java is like a dynamic array or a variable-length array.
Let us see and understand the following code snippet of Java ArrayList Syntax that will help you work around with ArrayList.
ArrayList<Object> a = new ArrayList<Object>();
ArrayList Methods
Java ArrayList Example
Following is a Java ArrayList Example:
import java.util.ArrayList;
class Test_ArrayList {
public static void main(String[] args) {
//Creating a generic ArrayList
ArrayList<String> arlTest = new ArrayList<String>();
//Size of arrayList
System.out.println("Size of ArrayList at creation: " + arlTest.size());
//Lets add some elements to it
arlTest.add("D");
arlTest.add("U");
arlTest.add("K");
arlTest.add("E");
//Recheck the size after adding elements
System.out.println("Size of ArrayList after adding elements: " + arlTest.size());
//Display all contents of ArrayList
System.out.println("List of all elements: " + arlTest);
//Remove some elements from the list
arlTest.remove("D");
System.out.println("See contents after removing one element: " + arlTest);
//Remove element by index
arlTest.remove(2);
System.out.println("See contents after removing element by index: " + arlTest);
//Check size after removing elements
System.out.println("Size of arrayList after removing elements: " + arlTest.size());
System.out.println("List of all elements after removing elements: " + arlTest);
//Check if the list contains "K"
System.out.println(arlTest.contains("K"));
}
}
Output:
Size of ArrayList at creation: 0
Size of ArrayList after adding elements: 4
List of all elements: [D, U, K, E]
See contents after removing one element: [U, K, E]
See contents after removing element by index: [U, K]
Size of arrayList after removing elements: 2
List of all elements after removing elements: [U, K]
true
Note: For simplicity, the elements shown in above code are single character elements. We can add Strings, integers, etc. too.