java的collection interface（接口）

1. collection 接口图解

Collection is the root interface to the java Collections hierarchy. List is one sub interface which defines an ordered Collection, other sub interfaces are Queue which typically will store elements ready for processing (e.g. stack).

collection vs list vs set:

collection: root interface. no defined order. a collection of items. methods: You can add stuff, remove stuff, iterate over stuff and query how much stuff is in there.
list: sub interface that extends the collection. defines an ordered Collection. methods: A List adds the information about a defined sequence of stuff to it: You can get the element at position n, you can add an element at position n, you can remove the element at position n.
set: sub interface that extends the collection. never contain the same element twice