4 Reasons Why You Should Consider Using Arrays Instead of ArrayList

Kevin Kouomeu
3 min readJun 9, 2024

In the world of Java programming, choosing the right data structure can be a minefield.

With so many options available, it’s easy to default to the most convenient or familiar choice without considering the implications on your application’s performance.

This article explains why you should use arrays instead of ArrayList in certain situations. It compares their time complexity and talks about real-world use cases where arrays may be a better choice.

Array VS ArrayList

In Java, arrays and lists (such as ArrayList) have different characteristics in terms of time complexity and functionality. We all know that the choice between using an array or a list depends on the specific requirements of our application.

But for most projects where I have worked on, ArrayList data structure has always been the default choice.

Here is a comparison of time complexity for common operations and some real-world use cases where an array may be globally better than a list:

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Kevin Kouomeu

Software Engineer — Freelance Developer — Java & Javascript Tech Blogger