Java ArrayList ensureCapacity() Method

The ArrayList.ensureCapacity() method in Java is used to increase the capacity of the ArrayList to ensure it can hold a specified number of elements without the need for resizing. This guide will cover the method's usage, explain how it works, and provide examples to demonstrate its functionality.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. ensureCapacity Method Syntax
3. Examples
   • Increasing the Capacity of an ArrayList
   • Pre-allocating Capacity for Performance Optimization
4. Real-World Use Case
5. Conclusion

Introduction

The ArrayList.ensureCapacity() method is part of the ArrayList class in Java. It is used to increase the capacity of the ArrayList to accommodate a specified number of elements, which can help to avoid multiple resizings when adding a large number of elements.

ensureCapacity Method Syntax

The syntax for the ensureCapacity method is as follows:

public void ensureCapacity(int minCapacity)

• minCapacity: The desired minimum capacity of the ArrayList.

Examples

Increasing the Capacity of an ArrayList

The ensureCapacity method can be used to ensure that the ArrayList can hold a specified number of elements without resizing.

Example

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class EnsureCapacityExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        List<String> list = new ArrayList<>(5);
        list.add("Apple");
        list.add("Banana");
        list.add("Orange");

        // Ensure the capacity is at least 10
        ((ArrayList<String>) list).ensureCapacity(10);

        list.add("Grapes");
        list.add("Pineapple");

        System.out.println("ArrayList after ensureCapacity: " + list);
    }
}

Output:

ArrayList after ensureCapacity: [Apple, Banana, Orange, Grapes, Pineapple]

Pre-allocating Capacity for Performance Optimization

Using ensureCapacity can be beneficial in scenarios where you know in advance the number of elements you will be adding to the list, as it reduces the need for resizing operations and improves performance.

Example

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class PreAllocateCapacityExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        List<String> list = new ArrayList<>();

        // Pre-allocate capacity for 100 elements
        ((ArrayList<String>) list).ensureCapacity(100);

        for (int i = 1; i <= 100; i++) {
            list.add("Element " + i);
        }

        System.out.println("ArrayList after adding 100 elements: " + list.size());
    }
}

Output:

ArrayList after adding 100 elements: 100

Real-World Use Case

Batch Processing

In a batch processing scenario, where you need to process and store a large number of items, using ensureCapacity can improve performance by reducing the number of resizing operations.

Example

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class BatchProcessing {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        List<String> batchData = new ArrayList<>();

        // Pre-allocate capacity for 1000 elements
        ((ArrayList<String>) batchData).ensureCapacity(1000);

        // Simulate batch processing
        for (int i = 1; i <= 1000; i++) {
            batchData.add("Record " + i);
        }

        System.out.println("Batch data size: " + batchData.size());
    }
}

Output:

Batch data size: 1000

Conclusion

The ArrayList.ensureCapacity() method in Java is a useful tool for optimizing the performance of your ArrayList by pre-allocating space for a specified number of elements. By understanding how to use this method, you can efficiently manage the capacity of your lists and avoid the overhead of multiple resizing operations. Whether you are handling batch processing or large datasets, the ensureCapacity method provides a straightforward and effective solution for improving performance.