Java: An Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming, 8th Edition

12.2 The Java Collections Framework

Any idea is a generalization, and generalization is a property of thinking. To generalize something means to think it.

—GEORG WILHELM FRIEDRICH HEGEL, Elements of the Philosophy of Right, (1820)

The Java Collections Framework is a collection of interfaces and classes that may be used to manipulate groups of objects. The classes implemented in the Java Collections Framework serve as reusable data structures and include algorithms for common tasks such as sorting or searching. The framework uses parameterized classes so you can use them with the classes of your choice. Utilizing the framework can free the programmer from lots of low-level details if they aren’t the focus of the program. This section is just enough ...