Package org.apache.commons.collections

Class ListUtils

  • public class ListUtils
extends java.lang.Object
    Provides utility methods and decorators for List instances.
    Since:
    Commons Collections 1.0

    • Field Summary

      Fields 
      Modifier and Type Field Description
      static java.util.List EMPTY_LIST
      An empty unmodifiable list.

    • Constructor Summary

      Constructors 
      Constructor Description
      ListUtils()
      ListUtils should not normally be instantiated.

    • Method Summary

      All Methods Static Methods Concrete Methods 
      Modifier and Type Method Description
      static java.util.List fixedSizeList​(java.util.List list)
      Returns a fixed-sized list backed by the given list.
      static int hashCodeForList​(java.util.Collection list)
      Generates a hash code using the algorithm specified in List.hashCode().
      static java.util.List intersection​(java.util.List list1, java.util.List list2)
      Returns a new list containing all elements that are contained in both given lists.
      static boolean isEqualList​(java.util.Collection list1, java.util.Collection list2)
      Tests two lists for value-equality as per the equality contract in List.equals(java.lang.Object).
      static java.util.List lazyList​(java.util.List list, Factory factory)
      Returns a "lazy" list whose elements will be created on demand.
      static java.util.List predicatedList​(java.util.List list, Predicate predicate)
      Returns a predicated (validating) list backed by the given list.
      static java.util.List removeAll​(java.util.Collection collection, java.util.Collection remove)
      Removes the elements in remove from collection.
      static java.util.List retainAll​(java.util.Collection collection, java.util.Collection retain)
      Returns a List containing all the elements in collection that are also in retain.
      static java.util.List subtract​(java.util.List list1, java.util.List list2)
      Subtracts all elements in the second list from the first list, placing the results in a new list.
      static java.util.List sum​(java.util.List list1, java.util.List list2)
      Returns the sum of the given lists.
      static java.util.List synchronizedList​(java.util.List list)
      Returns a synchronized list backed by the given list.
      static java.util.List transformedList​(java.util.List list, Transformer transformer)
      Returns a transformed list backed by the given list.
      static java.util.List typedList​(java.util.List list, java.lang.Class type)
      Returns a typed list backed by the given list.
      static java.util.List union​(java.util.List list1, java.util.List list2)
      Returns a new list containing the second list appended to the first list.
      static java.util.List unmodifiableList​(java.util.List list)
      Returns an unmodifiable list backed by the given list.

      • Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

        equals, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

    • Field Detail

      • EMPTY_LIST

        public static final java.util.List EMPTY_LIST
        An empty unmodifiable list. This uses the Collections implementation and is provided for completeness.

    • Constructor Detail

      • ListUtils

        public ListUtils()
        ListUtils should not normally be instantiated.

    • Method Detail

      • intersection

        public static java.util.List intersection​(java.util.List list1,
                                          java.util.List list2)
        Returns a new list containing all elements that are contained in both given lists.
        Parameters:
        list1 - the first list
        list2 - the second list
        Returns:
        the intersection of those two lists
        Throws:
        java.lang.NullPointerException - if either list is null

      • subtract

        public static java.util.List subtract​(java.util.List list1,
                                      java.util.List list2)
        Subtracts all elements in the second list from the first list, placing the results in a new list.

        This differs from List.removeAll(Collection) in that cardinality is respected; if list1 contains two occurrences of null and list2 only contains one occurrence, then the returned list will still contain one occurrence.

        Parameters:
        list1 - the list to subtract from
        list2 - the list to subtract
        Returns:
        a new list containing the results
        Throws:
        java.lang.NullPointerException - if either list is null

      • sum

        public static java.util.List sum​(java.util.List list1,
                                 java.util.List list2)
        Returns the sum of the given lists. This is their intersection subtracted from their union.
        Parameters:
        list1 - the first list
        list2 - the second list
        Returns:
        a new list containing the sum of those lists
        Throws:
        java.lang.NullPointerException - if either list is null

      • union

        public static java.util.List union​(java.util.List list1,
                                   java.util.List list2)
        Returns a new list containing the second list appended to the first list. The List.addAll(Collection) operation is used to append the two given lists into a new list.
        Parameters:
        list1 - the first list
        list2 - the second list
        Returns:
        a new list containing the union of those lists
        Throws:
        java.lang.NullPointerException - if either list is null

      • isEqualList

        public static boolean isEqualList​(java.util.Collection list1,
                                  java.util.Collection list2)
        Tests two lists for value-equality as per the equality contract in List.equals(java.lang.Object).

        This method is useful for implementing List when you cannot extend AbstractList. The method takes Collection instances to enable other collection types to use the List implementation algorithm.

        The relevant text (slightly paraphrased as this is a static method) is:

        Compares the two list objects for equality. Returns true if and only if both lists have the same size, and all corresponding pairs of elements in the two lists are equal. (Two elements e1 and e2 are equal if (e1==null ? e2==null : e1.equals(e2)).) In other words, two lists are defined to be equal if they contain the same elements in the same order. This definition ensures that the equals method works properly across different implementations of the List interface.
        Note: The behaviour of this method is undefined if the lists are modified during the equals comparison.
        Parameters:
        list1 - the first list, may be null
        list2 - the second list, may be null
        Returns:
        whether the lists are equal by value comparison
        See Also:
        List

      • hashCodeForList

        public static int hashCodeForList​(java.util.Collection list)
        Generates a hash code using the algorithm specified in List.hashCode().

        This method is useful for implementing List when you cannot extend AbstractList. The method takes Collection instances to enable other collection types to use the List implementation algorithm.

        Parameters:
        list - the list to generate the hashCode for, may be null
        Returns:
        the hash code
        See Also:
        List.hashCode()

      • retainAll

        public static java.util.List retainAll​(java.util.Collection collection,
                                       java.util.Collection retain)
        Returns a List containing all the elements in collection that are also in retain. The cardinality of an element e in the returned list is the same as the cardinality of e in collection unless retain does not contain e, in which case the cardinality is zero. This method is useful if you do not wish to modify the collection c and thus cannot call collection.retainAll(retain);.
        Parameters:
        collection - the collection whose contents are the target of the #retailAll operation
        retain - the collection containing the elements to be retained in the returned collection
        Returns:
        a List containing all the elements of c that occur at least once in retain.
        Throws:
        java.lang.NullPointerException - if either parameter is null
        Since:
        Commons Collections 3.2

      • removeAll

        public static java.util.List removeAll​(java.util.Collection collection,
                                       java.util.Collection remove)
        Removes the elements in remove from collection. That is, this method returns a list containing all the elements in c that are not in remove. The cardinality of an element e in the returned collection is the same as the cardinality of e in collection unless remove contains e, in which case the cardinality is zero. This method is useful if you do not wish to modify collection and thus cannot call collection.removeAll(remove);.
        Parameters:
        collection - the collection from which items are removed (in the returned collection)
        remove - the items to be removed from the returned collection
        Returns:
        a List containing all the elements of c except any elements that also occur in remove.
        Throws:
        java.lang.NullPointerException - if either parameter is null
        Since:
        Commons Collections 3.2

      • synchronizedList

        public static java.util.List synchronizedList​(java.util.List list)
        Returns a synchronized list backed by the given list.

        You must manually synchronize on the returned buffer's iterator to avoid non-deterministic behavior: 

         List list = ListUtils.synchronizedList(myList);
 synchronized (list) {
     Iterator i = list.iterator();
     while (i.hasNext()) {
         process (i.next());
     }
 }
        This method uses the implementation in the decorators subpackage.
        Parameters:
        list - the list to synchronize, must not be null
        Returns:
        a synchronized list backed by the given list
        Throws:
        java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the list is null

      • unmodifiableList

        public static java.util.List unmodifiableList​(java.util.List list)
        Returns an unmodifiable list backed by the given list.

        This method uses the implementation in the decorators subpackage.

        Parameters:
        list - the list to make unmodifiable, must not be null
        Returns:
        an unmodifiable list backed by the given list
        Throws:
        java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the list is null

      • predicatedList

        public static java.util.List predicatedList​(java.util.List list,
                                            Predicate predicate)
        Returns a predicated (validating) list backed by the given list.

        Only objects that pass the test in the given predicate can be added to the list. Trying to add an invalid object results in an IllegalArgumentException. It is important not to use the original list after invoking this method, as it is a backdoor for adding invalid objects.

        Parameters:
        list - the list to predicate, must not be null
        predicate - the predicate for the list, must not be null
        Returns:
        a predicated list backed by the given list
        Throws:
        java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the List or Predicate is null

      • typedList

        public static java.util.List typedList​(java.util.List list,
                                       java.lang.Class type)
        Returns a typed list backed by the given list.

        Only objects of the specified type can be added to the list.

        Parameters:
        list - the list to limit to a specific type, must not be null
        type - the type of objects which may be added to the list
        Returns:
        a typed list backed by the specified list

      • transformedList

        public static java.util.List transformedList​(java.util.List list,
                                             Transformer transformer)
        Returns a transformed list backed by the given list.

        Each object is passed through the transformer as it is added to the List. It is important not to use the original list after invoking this method, as it is a backdoor for adding untransformed objects.

        Parameters:
        list - the list to predicate, must not be null
        transformer - the transformer for the list, must not be null
        Returns:
        a transformed list backed by the given list
        Throws:
        java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the List or Transformer is null

      • lazyList

        public static java.util.List lazyList​(java.util.List list,
                                      Factory factory)
        Returns a "lazy" list whose elements will be created on demand.

        When the index passed to the returned list's get method is greater than the list's size, then the factory will be used to create a new object and that object will be inserted at that index.

        For instance: 

         Factory factory = new Factory() {
     public Object create() {
         return new Date();
     }
 }
 List lazy = ListUtils.lazyList(new ArrayList(), factory);
 Object obj = lazy.get(3);
        After the above code is executed, obj will contain a new Date instance. Furthermore, that Date instance is the fourth element in the list. The first, second, and third element are all set to null.
        Parameters:
        list - the list to make lazy, must not be null
        factory - the factory for creating new objects, must not be null
        Returns:
        a lazy list backed by the given list
        Throws:
        java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the List or Factory is null

      • fixedSizeList

        public static java.util.List fixedSizeList​(java.util.List list)
        Returns a fixed-sized list backed by the given list. Elements may not be added or removed from the returned list, but existing elements can be changed (for instance, via the List.set(int,Object) method).
        Parameters:
        list - the list whose size to fix, must not be null
        Returns:
        a fixed-size list backed by that list
        Throws:
        java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the List is null