Java 9 provides factory methods to create immutable lists, sets, and maps. It can be useful to create empty or non-empty collection objects. In Java 8 and earlier versions, we can use collection class utility methods like unmodifiableXXX to create immutable collection objects. If we need to create an immutable list then use the Collections.unmodifiableList() method.
These factory methods allow us for easy initialization of immutable collections whether they are empty or non-empty.
Initialization of immutable list:
List<Integer> immutableEmptyList = List.of();
In the above, we have initialized an empty, immutable List.
Initialization of immutable set:
Set<Integer> immutableEmptySet = Set.of();
In the above, we have initialized an empty, immutable Set.
Initialization of immutable map:
Map<Integer, Integer> immutableEmptyMap = Map.of();
In the above, we have initialized an empty, immutable Map.
Example
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Set;
public class ImmutableCollectionTest {
public static void main(String args[]) {
List<String> list8 = new ArrayList<String>();
list8.add("INDIA");
list8.add("AUSTRALIA");
list8.add("ENGLAND");
list8.add("NEWZEALAND");
List<String> immutableList8 = Collections.unmodifiableList(list8);
immutableList8.forEach(System.out::println);
System.out.println();
List<String> immutableList = List.of("INDIA", "AUSTRALIA", "ENGLAND", "NEWZEALAND");
immutableList.forEach(System.out::println);
System.out.println();
Set<String> immutableSet = Set.of("INDIA", "AUSTRALIA", "ENGLAND", "NEWZEALAND");
immutableSet.forEach(System.out::println);
System.out.println();
Map<String, String> immutableMap = Map.of("INDIA", "India", "AUSTRALIA", "Australia", "ENGLAND", "England", "NEWZEALAND", "Newzealand");
immutableMap.forEach((key, value) -> System.out.println(key + " : " + value));
System.out.println();
}
}Output
INDIA AUSTRALIA ENGLAND NEWZEALAND INDIA AUSTRALIA ENGLAND NEWZEALAND AUSTRALIA ENGLAND NEWZEALAND INDIA AUSTRALIA : Australia ENGLAND : England NEWZEALAND : Newzealand INDIA : India