In Java, a dynamic array is one that can grow or shrink in size during runtime—unlike a traditional array with a fixed size. To create one, we typically use ArrayList
, which belongs to Java’s java.util
package.
✅ Basic Example Using ArrayList
:
import java.util.ArrayList;
public class DynamicArrayExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
ArrayList fruits = new ArrayList<>();
// Adding elements
fruits.add("Apple");
fruits.add("Banana");
fruits.add("Mango");
// Accessing elements
System.out.println(fruits.get(1)); // Output: Banana
// Removing an element
fruits.remove("Apple");
// Size of the list
System.out.println("Size: " + fruits.size());
}
}
🧠Why Use ArrayList
for Dynamic Arrays?
- You don’t need to know the size in advance
- It automatically resizes as elements are added or removed
- It provides convenient methods:
add()
,remove()
,contains()
,clear()
, etc.