List Implementations
That Use Arrays
Chapter 5
Chapter Contents
Using a Fixed-Size Array to Implement the ADT List
• An Analogy
• The Java Implementation
Using Dynamic Array Expansion to Implement the ADT
List
• Expanding an Array
• A News Implementation of a List
Using a Vector to Implement the ADT List
• A Summary of Methods in the Class Vector
The Pros and Cons of Using an Array to Implement the
ADT List
• The Class ArrayList
• The Interface Serializable
2
An Analogy
Consider a classroom with 40 desks in
fixed position
• Desks are wasted if less than 40 students
• Not enough desks if more than 40 students
An array is like the classroom
• Each desk an array location
3
An Analogy
Fig. 5-1 A classroom that contains desks in a fixed position.
4
An Analogy
Suppose we have some students in
classroom in order alphabetically
We add a new student
• We desire to maintain the alphabetic order
• We must shift some students
We remove a student in the middle of the
sequence
• Again, we must shift some students
5
Adding a Student
Fig. 5-2 Seating a new student between two existing
students: at least one other student must move 6
The Java Implementation
Private data fields for implementation of
AList
• Implements interface ListInterface of
Chapter 4
private Object entry[]; // array of list entries
private int length; // current number of entries in list
private static final int MAX_SIZE = 50; // max length of list
Note the full specification, pgs 103-105
7
AList add() Methods
First add method adds a new item at the
end of the list
• Assign new value at end
• Increment length of list
Second add method adds item in mid-list
• Requires a utility method, makeRoom()
• This shifts elements ahead
8
Adding Items in Mid-list
Fig. 5-3 Making room to insert Carla as
third entry in an array.
9
The remove() Method
Must shift existing entries to avoid gap in
the array
• Except when removing last entry
Method must also handle error situation
• When position specified in the remove is
invalid
• When remove() is called and the list is empty
• Invalid call returns null value
10
Removing a List Entry
Fig. 5-4 Removing Bob by shifting array entries.
11
Dynamic Array Expansion
An array has a fixed size
• If we need a larger list, we are in trouble
When array becomes full
• Move its contents to a larger array (dynamic
expansion)
• Copy data from original to new location
• Manipulate names so new location keeps
name of original array
12
Dynamic Array Expansion
Fig. 5-5 The dynamic expansion of an array copies the
array's contents to a larger second array.
13
Dynamic Array Expansion
Fig. 5-6 (a) an array;
(b) the same array with two references;
(c) the two arrays, reference to original array now
14
referencing a new, larger array
A New Implementation of a List
Change the isFull to always return false
• We will expand the array when it becomes full
• We keep this function so that the original
interface does not change
The add() methods will double the size of
the array when it becomes full
Now declare a private method
isArrayFull
• Called by the add() methods
15
Using a Vector to Implement the ADT List
Java's Vector class provides capabilities
of an array
• Able to expand dynamically
• Hides the details of the process
Vector
• Found in package [Link]
• Has methods for manipulating entries
• Enables implementing the ADT List
16
Using a Vector
Fig. 5-7 A client uses the methods given in
ListInterface, but the implementation of the list
uses Vector methods to perform its operations
17
Using a Vector
Elements of the class
import [Link];
public class VectorList implements ListInterface
{
private Vector entry; // entries in list
...
• Class Vector comes from package
[Link]
• Data field entry is an instance of a Vector
18
Using a Vector
The add() methods
• The first uses the addElement method from
the Vector class
• The other uses the insertElementAt
method
The remove() method
• Uses the removeElementAt method
19
Pros and Cons of Array Use for the ADT List
When using an array or vector …
• Retrieving an entry is fast
• Adding an entry at the end of the list is fast
• Adding or removing an entry that is between
other entries requires shifting elements in the
array
• Increasing the size of the array or vector
requires copying elements
20
Java Class Library
Has a class similar to class AList defined
in this chapter
• Class ArrayList
• Uses dynamic array expansion
Interface Serializable
• Represent an object as a sequence of bytes to
be written to a file
• Add the words implements Serializable
to class definition
public class AList implements ListInterface, Serializable
{ ... 21