By definition, a collection is an object that represents a group of objects. Like in set theory, a set is group of elements. Easy enough !!

Prior to JDK 1.2, JDK has some utility classes such as Vector and HashTable, but there was no concept of Collection framework. Later from JDK 1.2 onwards, JDK felt the need of having a consistent support for reusable data structures. FINALLY, the COLLECTIONS framework was designed and developed primarily by Joshua Bloch, and was introduced in JDK 1.2.

Its most noticeable advantages can be listed as:

• Reduced programming effort due to ready to USE code
• Increased performance because of high-performance implementations of data structures and algorithms
• PROVIDES interoperability between unrelated APIs by establishing a COMMON language to pass collections back and forth
• Easy to learn APIs by learning only some top level interfaces and supported operations

By definition, a collection is an object that represents a group of objects. Like in set theory, a set is group of elements. Easy enough !!

Prior to JDK 1.2, JDK has some utility classes such as Vector and HashTable, but there was no concept of Collection framework. Later from JDK 1.2 onwards, JDK felt the need of having a consistent support for reusable data structures. Finally, the collections framework was designed and developed primarily by Joshua Bloch, and was introduced in JDK 1.2.

Its most noticeable advantages can be listed as: