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Java Java Data Structures Exploring the Java Collection Framework Using ArrayLists

Walker Bolger
Walker Bolger
16,798 Points
Posted by Walker Bolger
Walker Bolger
16,798 Points

Why wasn't "List" implemented when we declared the class Treet?

When we declared the class Treet, we implemented the interfaces "Comparable" and "Serializable" in the class declaration when we said "public class Treet implements Comparable<Treet>, Serializable". Why then do we implement the interface "List<String>" next to the methods (i.e. "public List<String> getHashTags()") and not at the class declaration next to "Comparable," and "Serializable"?

1 Answer

Victor Learned
Victor Learned
6,976 Points
Victor Learned
Victor Learned
6,976 Points

You are not implementing the List interface. You are telling the function that it will be returning a list of objects. Remember how methods are declared. Also the reason we are implementing "Comparable," and "Serializable" is so we can implement (aka code how the method should behave) the methods they contain whereas here we are merely using the List as is.

//Access modifer (public, private, protected), return value (in this case we are returning a List of strings), method name
public List<String> getHastTags()
{
  List<String> results = new ArrayList<String>();
}

Here's some more details on what implementing an interface means in Java: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/usinginterface.html http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10839131/implements-vs-extends-when-to-use-whats-the-difference

Adiv Abramson
Adiv Abramson
6,919 Points

But the instructor specifically said "interface on the left and implementation on the right." So according to him we are implementing the List interface. If so, it should appear in the implements clause of the class declaration. How can an interface be used without including it in the implements clause of the class?