How to Remove an Element From an Array in Java

Learn the steps and methods for removing an element from an array in Java. Understand various approaches to effectively manage arrays during element deletion.
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How to Remove an Element From an Array in Java

Working with arrays in Java often involves operations like adding, updating, and deleting elements. Removing an element from an array can be particularly tricky because arrays in Java have a fixed size. This means that when you want to remove an element, you generally need to create a new array and copy the remaining elements into it.

Common Approaches

Using a Temporary Array

One way to remove an element from an array is to create a temporary array that is one element shorter than the original array. You loop through the original array, copying each element except for the one you want to remove.

Here's a simple example:

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Using ArrayList

An easier way to handle this operation is by converting the array to an ArrayList, removing the element, and then converting it back to an array. The ArrayList class provides built-in methods to simplify these operations.

Here's how you can achieve this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Removing an element from an array in Java requires a few extra steps due to the fixed size of arrays. Two straightforward approaches include using a temporary array or leveraging the ArrayList class. While using ArrayList is simpler and more intuitive, understanding both methods can be beneficial for developing a deeper understanding of array manipulation in Java.