How to Print a List in Java

List is a Java class that belongs to java.util package. It is inherited from the Collection interface and used to keep a collection in order. The List interface supports ArrayList and LinkedList. In Java programming, the ArrayList and LinkedList are frequently used, and the Java collection ArrayList implements the List.

This write-up will specifically discuss the method of printing a list in Java.

How to Print a List in Java?

To print a List in Java, you can use:

toString() method
for loop
for-each loop

Let’s check out each of the mentioned methods one by one!

Method 1: Print a List in Java Using toString() Method

The “toString()” method can be used to print a list in Java. This method prints the specified list elements directly using their references.

Example
First, we will create a list of String type named “gadgetList” using the Java collection ArrayList:

List<String> gadgetList = new ArrayList<String>();

Then, we will add the values to the list with the help of the “add()” method:

gadgetList.add("Mobile");
gadgetList.add("Computer");
gadgetList.add("Laptop");
gadgetList.add("Headphones");

Now, we will call the “toString()” method to print the list on the console with the help of “System.out.println()” method:

System.out.println(gadgetList.toString());

Output

Want to perform the same operations using loops? Head towards the next sections!

Method 2: Print a List in Java Using for Loop

The most common method to print the List in Java is using a “for” loop. The for loop iterates over the list until its size and prints out the values using the “System.out.println()” method.

Example
In this example we consider the same list named “gadgetList” and print its values using “for” loop:

for(int i=0; i < gadgetList.size(); i++){
System.out.println( gadgetList.get(i) );
}

The given output indicates that we have successfully displayed the list values with the help of the “for” loop:

Method 3: Print a List in Java Using for-each Loop

The “for-each” loop can also be utilized for the same purpose. It contains a variable with the same type as the List, colon, and the list’s name. This loop saves elements in the loop variable later printed on the console.

Example
In this example, we print the list named “gadgetList” using a “for-each” loop. So, we will create a String type variable named “gadgets”. Then, print the elements of the list using the “System.out.println()” methods:

for(String gadgets : gadgetList){
System.out.println(gadgets);
}

Output

We have offered all of the essential methods related to printing a list in Java.

Conclusion

To print a list in java, you can use three approaches: for loop, for-each loop, and toString() method. The for loop iterates over the list until its size and prints out the values using the System.out.println() method. The for-each loop contains a variable the same type as the List, colon, and the list’s name and saves elements in the loop variable. Lastly, the toString() method directly prints the specified list elements using their references. This write-up discussed the methods for printing a list in Java.

How to Print a List in Java