The Arrays class in java.util package is a part of the Java Collection Framework. This class provides static methods to dynamically create and access Java arrays. It consists of only static methods and the methods of Object class. The methods of this class can be used by the class name itself.
The class hierarchy is as follows:
java.lang.Object
? java.util.Arrays
Geek, now you must be wondering why do we need java Arrays class when we are able to declare, initialize and compute operations over arrays. The answer to this though lies within the methods of this class which we are going to discuss further as practically these functions help programmers expanding horizons with arrays for instance there are often times when loops are used to do some tasks on an array like:
- Fill an array with a particular value.
- Sort an Arrays.
- Search in an Arrays.
- And many more.
Here Arrays class provides several static methods that can be used to perform these tasks directly without the use of loops, hence forth making our code super short and optimized.
Syntax: Class declaration
public class Arrays
extends Object
Syntax: In order to use Arrays
Arrays.<function name>;
To explore these methods further and see how they can simplify your array manipulations, the Java Programming Course covers arrays comprehensively with practical examples.
Methods in Java Array Class
The Arrays class of the java.util package contains several static methods that can be used to fill, sort, search, etc in arrays. Now let us discuss the methods of this class which are shown below in a tabular format as follows:
| Methods | Action Performed |
|---|
| asList() | Returns a fixed-size list backed by the specified Arrays |
| binarySearch() | Searches for the specified element in the array with the help of the Binary Search Algorithm |
| binarySearch(array, fromIndex, toIndex, key, Comparator) | Searches a range of the specified array for the specified object using the Binary Search Algorithm |
| compare(array 1, array 2) | Compares two arrays passed as parameters lexicographically. |
| copyOf(originalArray, newLength) | Copies the specified array, truncating or padding with the default value (if necessary) so the copy has the specified length. |
| copyOfRange(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex) | Copies the specified range of the specified array into a new Arrays. |
| deepEquals(Object[] a1, Object[] a2) | Returns true if the two specified arrays are deeply equal to one another. |
| deepHashCode(Object[] a) | Returns a hash code based on the “deep contents” of the specified Arrays. |
| deepToString(Object[] a) | Returns a string representation of the “deep contents” of the specified Arrays. |
| equals(array1, array2) | Checks if both the arrays are equal or not. |
| fill(originalArray, fillValue) | Assigns this fill value to each index of this arrays. |
| hashCode(originalArray) | Returns an integer hashCode of this array instance. |
| mismatch(array1, array2) | Finds and returns the index of the first unmatched element between the two specified arrays. |
| parallelPrefix(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex, functionalOperator) | Performs parallelPrefix for the given range of the array with the specified functional operator. |
| parallelPrefix(originalArray, operator) | Performs parallelPrefix for complete array with the specified functional operator. |
| parallelSetAll(originalArray, functionalGenerator) | Sets all the elements of this array in parallel, using the provided generator function. |
| parallelSort(originalArray) | Sorts the specified array using parallel sort. |
| setAll(originalArray, functionalGenerator) | Sets all the elements of the specified array using the generator function provided. |
| sort(originalArray) | Sorts the complete array in ascending order. |
| sort(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex) | Sorts the specified range of array in ascending order. |
| sort(T[] a, int fromIndex, int toIndex, Comparator< super T> c) | Sorts the specified range of the specified array of objects according to the order induced by the specified comparator. |
| sort(T[] a, Comparator< super T> c) | Sorts the specified array of objects according to the order induced by the specified comparator. |
| spliterator(originalArray) | Returns a Spliterator covering all of the specified Arrays. |
| spliterator(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex) | Returns a Spliterator of the type of the array covering the specified range of the specified arrays. |
| stream(originalArray) | Returns a sequential stream with the specified array as its source. |
| toString(originalArray) | It returns a string representation of the contents of this array. The string representation consists of a list of the array’s elements, enclosed in square brackets (“[]”). Adjacent elements are separated by the characters a comma followed by a space. Elements are converted to strings as by String.valueOf() function. |
Implementation:
Example 1: asList() Method
Java
// Java Program to Demonstrate Arrays Class
// Via asList() method
// Importing Arrays utility class
// from java.util package
import java.util.Arrays;
// Main class
class GFG {
// Main driver method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To convert the elements as List
System.out.println("Integer Array as List: "
+ Arrays.asList(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array as List: [[I@2f4d3709]
Example 2: binarySearch() Method
This methods search for the specified element in the array with the help of the binary search algorithm.
Java
// Java Program to Demonstrate Arrays Class
// Via binarySearch() method
// Importing Arrays utility class
// from java.util package
import java.util.Arrays;
// Main class
public class GFG {
// Main driver method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
Arrays.sort(intArr);
int intKey = 22;
// Print the key and corresponding index
System.out.println(
intKey + " found at index = "
+ Arrays.binarySearch(intArr, intKey));
}
}
Output22 found at index = 3
Example 3: binarySearch(array, fromIndex, toIndex, key, Comparator) Method
This method searches a range of the specified array for the specified object using the binary search algorithm.
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.binarySearch() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
Arrays.sort(intArr);
int intKey = 22;
System.out.println(
intKey
+ " found at index = "
+ Arrays
.binarySearch(intArr, 1, 3, intKey));
}
}
Output22 found at index = -4
Example 4: compare(array 1, array 2) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.compare() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// Get the second Array
int intArr1[] = { 10, 15, 22 };
// To compare both arrays
System.out.println("Integer Arrays on comparison: "
+ Arrays.compare(intArr, intArr1));
}
}
OutputInteger Arrays on comparison: 1
Example 5: compareUnsigned(array 1, array 2) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.compareUnsigned() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Arrays
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// Get the second Arrays
int intArr1[] = { 10, 15, 22 };
// To compare both arrays
System.out.println("Integer Arrays on comparison: "
+ Arrays.compareUnsigned(intArr, intArr1));
}
}
OutputInteger Arrays on comparison: 1
Example 6: copyOf(originalArray, newLength) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.copyOf() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To print the elements in one line
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
System.out.println("\nNew Arrays by copyOf:\n");
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(
Arrays.copyOf(intArr, 10)));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [10, 20, 15, 22, 35]
New Arrays by copyOf:
Integer Array: [10, 20, 15, 22, 35, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
Example 7: copyOfRange(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.copyOfRange() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To print the elements in one line
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
System.out.println("\nNew Arrays by copyOfRange:\n");
// To copy the array into an array of new length
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(
Arrays.copyOfRange(intArr, 1, 3)));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [10, 20, 15, 22, 35]
New Arrays by copyOfRange:
Integer Array: [20, 15]
Example 8: deepEquals(Object[] a1, Object[] a2) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.deepEquals() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Arrays
int intArr[][] = { { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 } };
// Get the second Arrays
int intArr1[][] = { { 10, 15, 22 } };
// To compare both arrays
System.out.println("Integer Arrays on comparison: "
+ Arrays.deepEquals(intArr, intArr1));
}
}
OutputInteger Arrays on comparison: false
Example 9: deepHashCode(Object[] a) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.deepHashCode() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[][] = { { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 } };
// To get the dep hashCode of the arrays
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.deepHashCode(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: 38475344
Example 10: deepToString(Object[] a) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.deepToString() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[][] = { { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 } };
// To get the deep String of the arrays
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.deepToString(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [[10, 20, 15, 22, 35]]
Example 11: equals(array1, array2) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.equals() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Arrays
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// Get the second Arrays
int intArr1[] = { 10, 15, 22 };
// To compare both arrays
System.out.println("Integer Arrays on comparison: "
+ Arrays.equals(intArr, intArr1));
}
}
OutputInteger Arrays on comparison: false
Example 12: fill(originalArray, fillValue) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.fill() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Arrays
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
int intKey = 22;
Arrays.fill(intArr, intKey);
// To fill the arrays
System.out.println("Integer Array on filling: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array on filling: [22, 22, 22, 22, 22]
Example 13: hashCode(originalArray) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.hashCode() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To get the hashCode of the arrays
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.hashCode(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: 38475313
Example 14: mismatch(array1, array2) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.mismatch() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Arrays
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// Get the second Arrays
int intArr1[] = { 10, 15, 22 };
// To compare both arrays
System.out.println("The element mismatched at index: "
+ Arrays.mismatch(intArr, intArr1));
}
}
OutputThe element mismatched at index: 1
Example 15: parallelSort(originalArray) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.parallelSort() method
// Importing Arrays class from
// java.util package
import java.util.Arrays;
// Main class
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To sort the array using parallelSort
Arrays.parallelSort(intArr);
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [10, 15, 20, 22, 35]
Example 16: sort(originalArray) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.sort() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To sort the array using normal sort-
Arrays.sort(intArr);
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [10, 15, 20, 22, 35]
Example 17: sort(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.sort() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To sort the array using normal sort
Arrays.sort(intArr, 1, 3);
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [10, 15, 20, 22, 35]
Example 18: sort(T[] a, int fromIndex, int toIndex, Comparator< super T> c) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate working of Comparator
// interface
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.*;
import java.io.*;
// A class to represent a student.
class Student {
int rollno;
String name, address;
// Constructor
public Student(int rollno, String name,
String address)
{
this.rollno = rollno;
this.name = name;
this.address = address;
}
// Used to print student details in main()
public String toString()
{
return this.rollno + " "
+ this.name + " "
+ this.address;
}
}
class Sortbyroll implements Comparator<Student> {
// Used for sorting in ascending order of
// roll number
public int compare(Student a, Student b)
{
return a.rollno - b.rollno;
}
}
// Driver class
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Student[] arr = { new Student(111, "bbbb", "london"),
new Student(131, "aaaa", "nyc"),
new Student(121, "cccc", "jaipur") };
System.out.println("Unsorted");
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
System.out.println(arr[i]);
Arrays.sort(arr, 1, 2, new Sortbyroll());
System.out.println("\nSorted by rollno");
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
System.out.println(arr[i]);
}
}
OutputUnsorted
111 bbbb london
131 aaaa nyc
121 cccc jaipur
Sorted by rollno
111 bbbb london
131 aaaa nyc
121 cccc jaipur
Example 19: sort(T[] a, Comparator< super T> c) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate working of Comparator
// interface
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.*;
import java.io.*;
// A class to represent a student.
class Student {
int rollno;
String name, address;
// Constructor
public Student(int rollno, String name,
String address)
{
this.rollno = rollno;
this.name = name;
this.address = address;
}
// Used to print student details in main()
public String toString()
{
return this.rollno + " "
+ this.name + " "
+ this.address;
}
}
class Sortbyroll implements Comparator<Student> {
// Used for sorting in ascending order of
// roll number
public int compare(Student a, Student b)
{
return a.rollno - b.rollno;
}
}
// Driver class
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Student[] arr = { new Student(111, "bbbb", "london"),
new Student(131, "aaaa", "nyc"),
new Student(121, "cccc", "jaipur") };
System.out.println("Unsorted");
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
System.out.println(arr[i]);
Arrays.sort(arr, new Sortbyroll());
System.out.println("\nSorted by rollno");
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
System.out.println(arr[i]);
}
}
OutputUnsorted
111 bbbb london
131 aaaa nyc
121 cccc jaipur
Sorted by rollno
111 bbbb london
121 cccc jaipur
131 aaaa nyc
Example 20: spliterator(originalArray) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.spliterator() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To sort the array using normal sort
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.spliterator(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: java.util.Spliterators$IntArraySpliterator@4e50df2e
Example 21: spliterator(originalArray, fromIndex, endIndex) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.spliterator() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To sort the array using normal sort
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.spliterator(intArr, 1, 3));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: java.util.Spliterators$IntArraySpliterator@4e50df2e
Example 22: stream(originalArray) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.stream() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To get the Stream from the array
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.stream(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: java.util.stream.IntPipeline$Head@7291c18f
Example 23: toString(originalArray) Method
Java
// Java program to demonstrate
// Arrays.toString() method
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Get the Array
int intArr[] = { 10, 20, 15, 22, 35 };
// To print the elements in one line
System.out.println("Integer Array: "
+ Arrays.toString(intArr));
}
}
OutputInteger Array: [10, 20, 15, 22, 35]