What are the advantages of ArrayList over array

[beelow]

Hi all,

I have to write a program which requires array. I am confused between ArrayList and array. I know ArrayList has advanced features than normal array. But...

Can you please tell me the why I should use ArrayList? What are the advantages of the ArrayList over array?

Your help will be appreciated...

[MindSpace]

Below are the advantages of the ArrayList over array

1)An array can be of any data type and contain only one data type while array list can contain any data type.

2)With array we can not increase or decrease the size of array dynamically. We must the define the size of the array. We can change the size of the array with redim statement but still you have to define type. On other hand, with array list you can make list of any sizes.

[Praetor]

Hi friend,

The main advantage of the arrayList is that its provides a collection similar to an array, but difference is that it grows dynamically as the number of elements increase or decrease. Below the example of the arrayList which explains it's use:

static void Main()
{
ArrayList list = new ArrayList();
list.Add(10);
list.Add(57);
list.Add(22);
foreach(int num in list)
{
Console.WriteLine(num);
}
}

Output of the above program will print the below arrayList elements:

10
57
22

[Katty]

The advantage of the ArrayList is that it does not have a particular set size. ArrayList expands or shrinks to fit items which you want to store in it.

There is also disadvantages for this expandability. The ArrayList is not strongly typed i.e it just holds objects. Meaning anything you pull out must be cast in other datatype before it's use. Also there are no compile-time guarantees that objects of the correct data type are being placed into the ArrayList.

when you know you will be requiring a list of fixed size, you should use an array for this. But when you will requiring to dynamically resize a list, you should use an ArrayList.