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Cheatsheets / Learn Java
Arrays and ArrayLists
Java ArrayList
In Java, an ArrayList is used to represent a dynamic // import the ArrayList package
list.
import java.util.ArrayList;
While Java arrays are �xed in size (the size cannot be
modi�ed), an ArrayList allows �exibility by being
able to both add and remove elements. // create an ArrayList called students
ArrayList<String> students = new
ArrayList<String>();
Index
An index refers to an element’s position within an array. int[] marks = {50, 55, 60, 70, 80};
The index of an array starts from 0 and goes up to one
less than the total length of the array.
System.out.println(marks[0]);
// Output: 50
System.out.println(marks[4]);
// Output: 80
Arrays
In Java, an array is used to store a list of elements of // Create an array of 5 int elements
the same datatype.
int[] marks = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
Arrays are �xed in size and their elements are ordered.
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Array creation in Java
In Java, an array can be created in the following ways: int[] age = {20, 21, 30};
• Using the {} notation, by adding each element
all at once.
• Using the new keyword, and assigning each
int[] marks = new int[3];
position of the array individually. marks[0] = 50;
marks[1] = 70;
marks[2] = 93;
Changing an Element Value
To change an element value, select the element via its int[] nums = {1, 2, 0, 4};
index and use the assignment operator to set a new
// Change value at index 2
value.
nums[2] = 3;
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Modifying ArrayLists in Java
An ArrayList can easily be modi�ed using built in import java.util.ArrayList;
methods.
To add elements to an ArrayList , you use the
public class Students {
add() method. The element that you want to add
goes inside of the () . public static void main(String[] args)
To remove elements from an ArrayList , you use the {
remove() method. Inside the () you can specify
the index of the element that you want to remove.
// create an ArrayList called
Alternatively, you can specify directly the element that
you want to remove. studentList, which initially holds []
ArrayList<String>
studentList = new ArrayList<String>();
// add students to the ArrayList
studentList.add("John");
studentList.add("Lily");
studentList.add("Samantha");
studentList.add("Tony");
// remove John from the ArrayList,
then Lily
studentList.remove(0);
studentList.remove("Lily");
// studentList now holds [Samantha,
Tony]
System.out.println(studentList);
}
}
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Cheatsheets / Learn Java
Two-Dimensional Arrays
Nested Iteration Statements
In Java, nested iteration statements are iteration for(int outer = 0; outer < 3; outer++){
statements that appear in the body of another iteration
System.out.println("The outer index
statement. When a loop is nested inside another loop,
the inner loop must complete all its iterations before is: " + outer);
the outer loop can continue. for(int inner = 0; inner < 4; inner+
+){
System.out.println("\tThe inner
index is: " + inner);
}
}
Declaring 2D Arrays
In Java, 2D arrays are stored as arrays of arrays. int[][] twoDIntArray;
Therefore, the way 2D arrays are declared is similar 1D
String[][] twoDStringArray;
array objects. 2D arrays are declared by de�ning a data
type followed by two sets of square brackets. double[][] twoDDoubleArray;
Accessing 2D Array Elements
In Java, when accessing the element from a 2D array //Given a 2d array called `arr` which
using arr[first][second] , the first index can be
stores `int` values
thought of as the desired row, and the second index
is used for the desired column. Just like 1D arrays, 2D
int[][] arr = {{1,2,3},
arrays are indexed starting at 0 . {4,5,6}};
//We can get the value `4` by using
int retrieved = arr[1][0];
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Initializer Lists
In Java, initializer lists can be used to quickly give initial // Method one: declaring and
values to 2D arrays. This can be done in two di�erent
intitializing at the same time
ways.
���If the array has not been declared yet, a new double[][] doubleValues = {{1.5, 2.6,
array can be declared and initialized in the same 3.7}, {7.5, 6.4, 5.3}, {9.8, 8.7, 7.6},
step using curly brackets.
{3.6, 5.7, 7.8}};
���If the array has already been declared, the
new keyword along with the data type must
be used in order to use an initializer list // Method two: declaring and initializing
separately:
String[][] stringValues;
stringValues = new String[][]
{{"working", "with"}, {"2D", "arrays"},
{"is", "fun"}};
Modify 2D Array Elements
In Java, elements in a 2D array can be modi�ed in a double[][] doubleValues = {{1.5, 2.6,
similar fashion to modifying elements in a 1D array.
3.7}, {7.5, 6.4, 5.3}, {9.8, 8.7, 7.6},
Setting arr[i][j] equal to a new value will modify the
element in row i column j of the array arr .
{3.6, 5.7, 7.8}};
doubleValues[2][2] = 100.5;
// This will change the value 7.6 to
100.5
Row-Major Order
“Row-major order” refers to an ordering of 2D array for(int i = 0; i < matrix.length; i++) {
elements where traversal occurs across each row -
for(int j = 0; j < matrix[i].length;
from the top left corner to the bottom right. In Java,
row major ordering can be implemented by having j++) {
nested loops where the outer loop variable iterates System.out.println(matrix[i][j]);
through the rows and the inner loop variable iterates
}
through the columns. Note that inside these loops,
when accessing elements, the variable used in the }
outer loop will be used as the �rst index, and the inner
loop variable will be used as the second index.
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Column-Major Order
“Column-major order” refers to an ordering of 2D array for(int i = 0; i < matrix[0].length; i++)
elements where traversal occurs down each column -
{
from the top left corner to the bottom right. In Java,
column major ordering can be implemented by having for(int j = 0; j < matrix.length; j+
nested loops where the outer loop variable iterates +) {
through the columns and the inner loop variable
System.out.println(matrix[j][i]);
iterates through the rows. Note that inside these loops,
when accessing elements, the variable used in the }
outer loop will be used as the second index, and the }
inner loop variable will be used as the �rst index.
Traversing With Enhanced For Loops
In Java, enhanced for loops can be used to traverse 2D for(String[] rowOfStrings :
arrays. Because enhanced for loops have no index
twoDStringArray) {
variable, they are better used in situations where you
only care about the values of the 2D array - not the for(String s : rowOfStrings) {
location of those values System.out.println(s);
}
}
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