Newbie question: make arrayList to allow only unique values

[usgog]

Is there an elegant way to make an arrayList to allow only unique
values, like Map? I can use Map for that but I don't want to generate
many "fake" keys for keeping unique values of value.

 

[Manish Pandit]

Use a Set (http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/util/Set.html).

-cheers,
Manish

 

[Oliver Wong]

Is there an elegant way to make an arrayList to allow only unique
values, like Map? I can use Map for that but I don't want to generate
many "fake" keys for keeping unique values of value.

Each type of collection has different properties. For example, Lists
maintain the order of their elements, while Sets ensure no duplicate values.
If you only care about no duplicates, and don't care about the order of the
elements, use a Set as someone else suggested. Otherwise, please state which
properties you desire, so that a suitable datastructure can be recommended.

- Oliver