Question

What are the advantages of using ArrayLists over arrays?

A. It is faster that array
B. ArrayList is flexible with adding and removing elements.
C. It's a class that uses arrays and provides methods for common actions.
D. Nothing

Answer 1

ArrayLists offer dynamic sizing and convenient methods for adding and removing elements, making them more flexible than fixed-size arrays. However, they are not inherently faster than arrays.

Step-by-step explanation:

The advantages of using ArrayLists over arrays include flexibility in size and convenient methods for manipulating data. Unlike arrays, ArrayLists can grow and shrink dynamically, which makes them incredibly useful when the number of elements can vary. Furthermore, they offer methods that make it easier to add and remove elements, reducing the amount of code a programmer needs to write for these operations.

For example, to add an item to an array, you would need to create a new array with a larger size, copy the existing elements, and then add the new element. An ArrayList, on the other hand, allows you to simply call the add method. Similarly, removing an element from an array requires shifting elements and possibly creating a new smaller array, whereas with an ArrayList, the remove method simplifies this process.

However, it is worth noting that ArrayLists are not necessarily faster than arrays. In fact, for certain operations, especially where performance is critical, arrays may be more suitable due to their fixed size and direct memory access.