Java Collection Framework API
Introduction/history
The Java collection Framework is a set of interfaces and classes that execute generally reusable compilation data structures. Even though it is referred to as a framework, It functions like a kind of a library. Java collections Framework is endowed with interfaces that define a range of collections and classes that execute them. Originally Java contained just a small number of collection classes such as vector, hashtable among others. Java 1.2 then introduced the collection framework (Benjamin, et al 2010).
The collection framework is a unified architecture used for representing and influencing collection thereby enabling them to alter independently of the particulars of their representation. It minimizes programming effort while improving performance. It also enables interoperability within the unconnected APIs, it also reduces the difficulty in designing and learning new APIs and fosters software refuse. Java collection Framework is based on fourteen collection interfaces. The collection framework encompasses of these interfaces and algorithms that influence them (Rupakheti, et al 2011).
Benefits
There are quite a number of benefits that can be attributed to the java framework API. First the collection framework minimizes the difficult encountered in programming. The framework provides important data structures and algorithm, it relieves the effort of concentrating on the vital components of the program rather than on the low level (plumbing) that is needed to enable it work (Benjamin, et al 2010). Java collection framework also enhances interoperability within unrelated APIs; consequently, it eases the burden of writing adapter objects on conversion codes to link APIs
Java collection framework also improves the quality and speed of a program. It does this by enabling high performance, high quality executions of vital data structures and algorithms. The ranges of implementations of every interface are interchangeable; thereby programs may be tuned with eases by switching collection implementations. By freeing individuals from drudgery of writing individual data structures and algorithm, The Java collection framework enables one to have ample time that can be dedicated to increase the quality and performance of a program.
Another benefit of the java collection framework API is that it allows interoperability within unrelated APIs. The collection interfaces are the vernacular by which APIs pass collection back and forth (Benjamin, S. et al 2010). Incase a formwork API delivers a collection of node names or incase a GUI toolkit anticipates a collection of columns heading, the Java collection framework API will be able to seamlessly interoperate, regardless of whether they were written independently. Consequently, Java collection interface is able to minimize the difficulties encountered in learning and using use of new APIs. A number of APIs originally take collections on input and deliver them as output. Initially, every such API includes a small sub API dedicated to influencing its collection. There was minimal consistency within these hoc collection sub API, so one had to learn each from one scratch. This approach was easily prone to errors when using them. The java collection framework has been able to eliminate the problem.
The java framework minimizes efforts of designing new APIs. This is the flip side of the initial benefit. The collection framework, designers and implementers do not necessarily have to reinvent the wheel every time they establish a new API tat relies on the collections; rather, they can employ standard collection interfaces. Java collection Framework encourages reuse of software. New data structures that conform to the standard collection interfaces are originally reusable. The same thing applies to novel algorithms that operate on objects that implement these interfaces (Phong, et al 2010).
Reference
Phong. C.O et al (2010).Soot: A Java bytecode Optimization framework. Journal of ACM Digital library 4(34) 214-224
Rupakheti C. R. et al (2011) EQ: Checking the implemtion of equality in Java.Journal of IEEE xplore pages 590-593
Benjamin, S. et al (2010). A High-Level visualization API for Java and ImageJ. Journal of BMC Bioinformatics 11(274) 1471-2125
