ArrayList
ArrayList is a resizable array implementation in Java, part of the Java Collections Framework, that provides dynamic array-like functionality with automatic resizing and indexed access. It stores elements in a contiguous block of memory, allowing fast random access and iteration, but with slower insertions and deletions compared to linked lists due to element shifting.
Developers should use ArrayList when they need a dynamic, ordered collection with frequent random access or iteration, such as for storing lists of objects in applications like inventory management or data processing. It is ideal for scenarios where the size of the collection changes frequently but insertions and deletions are not performance-critical, as it offers better memory efficiency and cache locality than linked lists.