--- description: ArrayList in Java is a data structure that can be stretched to accommodate additional elements within itself and shrink back to a smaller size when elements are removed. title: ArrayList in Java image: https://www.guru99.com/images/uploads/2012/08/ArrayList.png --- [Skip to content](#main) ## What is ArrayList in Java? **ArrayList in Java** is a data structure that can be stretched to accommodate additional elements within itself and shrink back to a smaller size when elements are removed. It is a very important data structure useful in handling the dynamic behavior of elements. Wondering how ArrayList Java could be useful, see the below conversation – [![Arraylist in Java](https://www.guru99.com/images/uploads/2012/08/ArrayList.png)](https://www.guru99.com/images/uploads/2012/08/ArrayList.png) For Java ArrayList Example, see the following picture of a man stretching an elastic rubber band. The actual length of the rubber band is much smaller, but when stretched it can extend a lot more than its actual length and can be used to hold/bind much larger objects with it. Now, consider the next picture, that of a simple rope, it cannot stretch and will have a fixed length. [](https://www.guru99.com/images/Array%5Flist.png) It can grow as, and when required to accommodate the elements it needs to store and when elements are removed, it can shrink back to a smaller size. So as our friend has an issue with the array he is using cannot be expanded or made to shrink, we will be using ArrayList. [Arrays](https://www.guru99.com/java-arrays.html) are like the rope shown in the above picture; they will have a fixed length, cannot be expanded nor reduced from the original length. So our stretchable rubber-band is much like the Array List whereas the rope can be considered as the array. Technically speaking, ArrayList Java is like a dynamic array or a variable-length array. Let us see and understand the following code snippet of Java ArrayList Syntax that will help you work around with ArrayList. ArrayList