What is the difference between ArrayList and LinkedList in Java?
Jul 12, 2025 am 02:58 AMChoosing ArrayList or LinkedList in Java depends on the usage scenario. 1. When accessing elements frequently through indexes, ArrayList should be selected, because it is based on dynamic array implementation and supports fast random access of O(1) time complexity; 2. When performing intermediate insertion or deletion operations frequently, LinkedList should be selected, because it is based on a bidirectional linked list implementation and supports O(1) time complexity operations (if there are already node references); 3. In terms of memory, ArrayList is more compact, while LinkedList causes higher memory overhead due to storing additional pointers; 4. The iterative performance of the two is similar, but ArrayList is more suitable for repeated get(i). Therefore, choose the appropriate data structure according to the specific needs.
In Java, both ArrayList
and LinkedList
are commonly used to store collections of objects, but they work differently under the hood and perform better in different scenarios. The main difference lies in their internal structure: ArrayList is based on a dynamic array, while LinkedList uses a double-linked list.

If you're choosing between them, it's important to understand how each affects performance for operations like adding, removing, or accessing elements.

When Access Speed ??Matters: ArrayList Wins
If your code needs to frequently retrieve elements by index — say, using get(index)
— then ArrayList
is usually the better choice. Why? Because it stores elements in continuous memory locations, so accessing an element at any position takes constant time ( O(1) ).
For example:

List<String> list = new ArrayList<>(); list.add("A"); list.add("B"); list.add("C"); String secondItem = list.get(1); // Fast access
This makes ArrayList
ideal for situations where you read more than you modify.
However, if you're inserting or deleting elements from the middle of the list often, especially with large datasets, this can be slower because the underlying array may need to be resized or shifted.
When Modifying Often: LinkedList Can Be Better
On the flip side, if your application does a lot of insertions or deletions — especially in the middle of the list — LinkedList
can outperform ArrayList
. That's because those operations only require updating a few points in the linked nodes, not shifting large chunks of data.
For instance:
List<String> list = new LinkedList<>(); list.add("A"); list.add("B"); list.add("C"); list.add(1, "X"); // Inserting in the middle
This kind of operation runs in O(1) time if you already have a reference to the node (like when iterating with a ListIterator
). But if you don't, you still need to traverse the list to find the right spot, which takes linear time ( O(n) ).
Also, LinkedList
has built-in support for efficient add/remove operations at both ends, offering methods like addFirst()
and addLast()
.
Memory Overhead and Practical Considerations
Another thing to consider is memory usage. Each node in a LinkedList
contains not just the element value, but also references to the next and previous nodes. This extra overhead means that LinkedList
typically uses more memory than an ArrayList
of the same size.
Here's a quick comparison:
-
ArrayList
: More compact, good for mostly reading and occasional updates. -
LinkedList
: Higher memory footprint, better for frequent insertions and deletions.
Also, keep in mind:
- Iterating through both lists is generally similar in performance.
-
ArrayList
supports random-access efficiently;LinkedList
doesn't. - If you're using a loop that calls
get(i)
repeatedly,ArrayList
will feel much smoother.
So, choosing between ArrayList
and LinkedList
really depends on what your program does most. It's not about one being universally better — it's about matching the data structure to your use case.
Basically that's it.
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