CHAPTER 7
Arrays and the
ArrayList
Class
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The ArrayList Class
• Similar to an array, an ArrayList allows
object storage
• Unlike an array, an ArrayList object:
– Automatically expands when a new item is
added
– Automatically shrinks when items are removed
• Requires:
import java.util.ArrayList;
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Creating an ArrayList
ArrayList<String> nameList = new ArrayList<String>();
• Notice the word String written inside angled
brackets <>
• This specifies that the ArrayList can hold
String objects.
• If we try to store any other type of object in
this ArrayList, an error will occur.
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Using an ArrayList
• To populate the ArrayList, use the add
method:
• nameList.add("James");
• nameList.add("Catherine");
• To get the current size, call the size method
• nameList.size(); // returns 2
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Creating and Using an ArrayList
• To access items in an ArrayList, use the
get method
nameList.get(1);
In this statement 1 is the index of the item to get.
• Example: ArrayListDemo1.java
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Creating and Using an
ArrayList
• You can use the enhanced for loop to
iterate over each item in an ArrayList.
// Create an ArrayList of names.
ArrayList<String> nameList = new ArrayList<String>();
nameList.add("James");
nameList.add("Catherine");
nameList.add("Bill");
// Display the items in the ArrayList.
for (String name : nameList)
System.out.println(name);
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Using an ArrayList
• The ArrayList class's toString method returns a
string representing all items in the ArrayList
System.out.println(nameList);
This statement yields :
[ James, Catherine ]
• The ArrayList class's remove method removes
designated item from the ArrayList
nameList.remove(1);
This statement removes the second item.
• See example: ArrayListDemo3.java
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Using an ArrayList
• The ArrayList class's add method with one
argument adds new items to the end of the ArrayList
• To insert items at a location of choice, use the add
method with two arguments:
nameList.add(1, "Mary");
This statement inserts the String "Mary" at index 1
• To replace an existing item, use the set method:
nameList.set(1, "Becky");
This statement replaces “Mary” with “Becky”
• See example: ArrayListDemo4.java
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Using an ArrayList
• An ArrayList has a capacity, which is the
number of items it can hold without
increasing its size.
• The default capacity of an ArrayList is 10
items.
• To designate a different capacity, use a
parameterized constructor:
ArrayList<String> list = new ArrayList<String>(100);
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Using an ArrayList
• You can store any type of object in an
ArrayList
ArrayList<InventoryItem> accountList =
new ArrayList<InventoryItem>();
This creates an ArrayList that can hold
InventoryItem objects.
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Using an ArrayList
// Create a listor to hold InventoryItem objects.
ArrayList< InventoryItem> list = new ArrayList< InventoryItem>();
InventoryItem invObj
// Add three InventoryItem objects to the ArrayList.
invObj = new InventoryItem("Nuts", 100);
list.add(invObj);
invObj = new InventoryItem("Bolts", 150);
list.add(invObj)
invObj = new InventoryItem("Washers", 75);
list.add(invObj);
// Display each item.
for (int index = 0; index < list.size(); index++)
{
InventoryItem item = list.get(index);
System.out.println("Item at index " + index +
"\nDescription: " + item.getDescription() +
"\nUnits: " + item.getUnits());
} See: ArrayListDemo6.java
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