Creating a resizable array in Java

05 Oct 2023

In many programming scenarios, you may need to create an array whose size grows dynamically as elements are added to it. While Java provides fixed-size arrays by default, you can implement a resizable array using the ArrayList class from the Java Collections Framework.

Implementation

To create a resizable array in Java, follow these steps:

Import the ArrayList class:
```
import java.util.ArrayList;
```
Declare an ArrayList variable to serve as your resizable array:
```
ArrayList<ElementType> resizableArray = new ArrayList<ElementType>();
```
Replace ElementType with the actual type of elements you want to store in the array.
Add elements to the resizable array:
```
resizableArray.add(element);
```
Replace element with the value you want to add to the array.
Access elements in the resizable array:
```
ElementType value = resizableArray.get(index);
```
Replace index with the position of the element you want to access.
Modify elements in the resizable array:
```
resizableArray.set(index, newValue);
```
Replace index with the position of the element you want to modify, and newValue with the new value you want to assign.
Remove elements from the resizable array:
```
resizableArray.remove(index);
```
Replace index with the position of the element you want to remove.

Benefits of Resizable Array

Using a resizable array provides several benefits over fixed-size arrays:

Dynamic sizing: The array automatically grows or shrinks as elements are added or removed, eliminating the need to manually manage the array’s size.
Easy to use: Resizable arrays provide convenient methods for adding, accessing, modifying, and removing elements.
Improved memory management: Resizable arrays allocate memory incrementally, optimizing memory usage by only allocating what is necessary.

By utilizing the ArrayList class, you can easily create and work with resizable arrays in Java, making your code more flexible and adaptable.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to create a resizable array in Java using the ArrayList class. Resizable arrays offer dynamic sizing, ease of use, and improved memory management compared to fixed-size arrays. Incorporating resizable arrays in your Java programs can enhance their flexibility and efficiency.