Collections are used in every programming language and initial java release contained few classes for collections: Vector, Stack, Hashtable, Array. But looking at the larger scope and usage, Java 1.2 came up with Collections Framework that group all the collections interfaces, implementations and algorithms.
Java Collections have come through a long way with usage of Generics and Concurrent Collection classes for thread-safe operations. It also includes blocking interfaces and their implementations in java concurrent package.
Some of the benefits of collections framework are:-
- Reduced development effort by using core collection classes rather
than implementing our own collection classes.
- Code quality is enhanced with the use of well tested collections
framework classes.
- Reduced effort for code maintenance by using collection classes
shipped with JDK.
- Reusability and Interoperability
