How to print ArrayList without brackets in Java?

In Java, ArrayLists are widely used data structures for storing and manipulating collections of data. By default, when you print an ArrayList, it is enclosed within square brackets, separating each element with a comma. However, there are situations where you might want to print an ArrayList without the brackets, giving you more control over the format. In this article, we will explore various methods to achieve this and provide detailed code examples for each approach.

Method 1: Using a Loop

One of the simplest ways to print an ArrayList without brackets is to iterate through the ArrayList using a loop and print each element individually. Here's a code example to demonstrate this method:

PrintArrayListWithoutBrackets.java

import java.util.ArrayList;
public class PrintArrayListWithoutBrackets {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ArrayList<String> fruits = new ArrayList<>();
        fruits.add("Apple");
        fruits.add("Banana");
        fruits.add("Cherry");
        // Using a loop to print ArrayList elements without brackets
        for (String fruit : fruits) {
            System.out.print(fruit + " ");
        }
    }
}

Output:

Apple Banana Cherry

Method 2: Using Java Streams

Java 8 introduced the Stream API, which allows for concise and expressive code when working with collections. You can use Java Streams to print an ArrayList without brackets as follows:

PrintArrayListWithoutBrackets.java

import java.util.ArrayList;
public class PrintArrayListWithoutBrackets {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ArrayList<String> fruits = new ArrayList<>();
        fruits.add("Apple");
        fruits.add("Banana");
        fruits.add("Cherry");
        // Using Java Streams to print ArrayList elements without brackets
        fruits.stream().forEach(element -> System.out.print(element + " "));
    }
}

Output:

Apple Banana Cherry

Method 3: Using Apache Commons Lang

Apache Commons Lang library provides a convenient utility called StringUtils that allows us to join ArrayList elements without brackets. You can use it as follows:

PrintArrayListWithoutBrackets.java

import org.apache.commons.lang3.StringUtils;
import java.util.ArrayList;
public class PrintArrayListWithoutBrackets {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ArrayList<String> fruits = new ArrayList<>();
        fruits.add("Apple");
        fruits.add("Banana");
        fruits.add("Cherry");
        
        // Using Apache Commons Lang to print ArrayList elements without brackets
        String result = StringUtils.join(fruits, " ");
        System.out.println(result);
    }
}

Output:

Apple Banana Cherry

To use Apache Commons Lang, you need to include the library in your project. We can download it from the Apache Commons website (https://commons.apache.org/proper/commons-lang/) or use a build tool like Maven or Gradle to manage dependencies.

Conclusion:

Printing an ArrayList without brackets in Java provides more flexibility in formatting your output. You can achieve this using loops, Java Streams, or libraries like Apache Commons Lang. Each method has its advantages, and you can choose the one that best fits your coding style and project requirements. With the code examples provided in this article, you should now be able to easily print ArrayList elements without brackets in your Java programs.

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