Java ArrayList: Dynamic Array, Synchronized, Advantages and Disadvantages

ArrayList(C)(1.2V): ============ Java Array List class uses a dynamic array for storing the elements.  It is like an array, but there is no size limit. We can add or remove elements anytime.  So, it is much more flexible than the traditional array. It is found in the java.util package. ArrayList is dynamic data structure in which you can add or remove any number of elements. The important points about Java ArrayList class are: ================================== 1. Java ArrayList class can contain duplicate elements. 2. Java ArrayList class maintains insertion order. 3. Not Synchronized: Array-List is not thread-safe. Multiple thread can be access. 4. Java ArrayList allows random access because array works at the index basis. 5. In ArrayList, manipulation is little bit slower than the LinkedList  in Java because a lot of shifting needs to occur if any element is removed from the array list. 6. We can not create an array list of the primitive types, such as int, float, char, etc.  It is required to use the wrapper class in such cases. For example: ArrayList<int> al = ArrayList<int>(); // does not work   ArrayList<Integer> al = new ArrayList<Integer>(); // works fine  Note: Java new generic collection allows you to have only one type of object in a collection.  Now it is type safe so typecasting is not required at runtime. Advantages of ArrayList: ================ 1. Dynamic Sizing: You don't need to specify the size in advance, and it can grow or shrink dynamically. 2. Indexed Access: Fast access to elements by index, making it ideal for situations where you need to access or modify elements frequently. 3. Supports Duplicates: Can store duplicate elements, unlike Set. 4. Flexibility: It is part of the Collections Framework, so you can easily use it with other collections and utilities (like sorting, searching, etc.). 5. ArrayList is the best choice if our frequent operation is retrieval. Disadvantages of ArrayList: ================= 1. Not Synchronized: ArrayList is not thread-safe by default, so it's not suitable for concurrent modifications by multiple threads. 2. Performance: Inserting or removing elements in the middle or beginning of an ArrayList is slow because it involves shifting elements. 3. Memory Consumption: It may consume more memory than other collections, especially when there are fewer elements than the allocated capacity. 4. ArrayList is the worst choice if our frequent operation is insertion (or) deletion in the middle because it requires several internal shift operations. #InterviewExperience #Java #SpringBoot #BackendDevelopment #Core Java #Basic Concept

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