Difference between Iterator and Listiterator?

java list iterator set listiterator
Siva picture Siva · Jun 11, 2012 · Viewed 121.4k times · Source 
Iterator ite = Set.iterator();
Iterator ite = List.iterator();

ListIterator listite = List.listIterator();

We can use Iterator to traverse a Set or a List or a Map. But ListIterator can only be used to traverse a List, it can't traverse a Set. Why?

I know that the main difference is that with iterator we can travel in only one direction but with ListIterator we can travel both directions. Are there any other differences? And any advantages of ListIterator over Iterator?

Answer

Peter Lawrey picture Peter Lawrey · Jun 11, 2012

The differences are listed in the Javadoc for ListIterator

You can

  • iterate backwards
  • obtain the iterator at any point.
  • add a new value at any point.
  • set a new value at that point.

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