Package org.apache.commons.beanutils2

# Class LazyDynaList

java.lang.Object
java.util.AbstractCollection<Object>
java.util.AbstractList<Object>
java.util.ArrayList<Object>
org.apache.commons.beanutils2.LazyDynaList

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable`, `Cloneable`, `Iterable<Object>`, `Collection<Object>`, `List<Object>`, `RandomAccess`

public class LazyDynaList extends ArrayList<Object>

## Lazy DynaBean List.

There are two main purposes for this class:

- To provide Lazy List behavior - automatically growing and populating the `List` with either `DynaBean</code>, <code>java.util.Map` or POJO Beans.
- To provide a straight forward way of putting a Collection or Array into the lazy list and a straight forward way to get it out again at the end.

All elements added to the List are stored as `DynaBean`'s:

- `java.util.Map</code> elements are "wrapped" in a <code>LazyDynaMap`.
- POJO Bean elements are "wrapped" in a `WrapDynaBean`.
- `DynaBean`'s are stored un-changed.

## `toArray()`

The `toArray()` method returns an array of the elements of the appropriate type. If the `LazyDynaList` is populated with `Map` objects a `Map[]` array is returned. If the list is populated with POJO Beans an appropriate array of the POJO Beans is returned. Otherwise a `DynaBean[]` array is returned.

## `toDynaBeanArray()`

The `toDynaBeanArray()` method returns a `DynaBean[]` array of the elements in the List.

N.B.All the elements in the List must be the same type. If the `DynaClass</code> or <code>Class` of the `LazyDynaList`'s elements is not specified, then it will be automatically set to the type of the first element populated.

## Example 1

If you have an array of `java.util.Map[]` - you can put that into a `LazyDynaList`.

        TreeMap[] myArray = .... // your Map[]
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(myArray);

New elements of the appropriate Map type are automatically populated:

        // get(index) automatically grows the list
        DynaBean newElement = (DynaBean)lazyList.get(lazyList.size());
        newElement.put("someProperty", "someValue");

Once you've finished you can get back an Array of the elements of the appropriate type:

        // Retrieve the array from the list
        TreeMap[] myArray = (TreeMap[])lazyList.toArray());

## Example 2

Alternatively you can create an empty List and specify the Class for List's elements. The LazyDynaList uses the Class to automatically populate elements:

        // for example For Maps
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(TreeMap.class);

        // for example For POJO Beans
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(MyPojo.class);

        // for example For DynaBeans
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(MyDynaBean.class);

## Example 3

Alternatively you can create an empty List and specify the DynaClass for List's elements. The LazyDynaList uses the DynaClass to automatically populate elements:

        // for example For Maps
        DynaClass dynaClass = new LazyDynaMap(new HashMap());
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(dynaClass);

        // for example For POJO Beans
        DynaClass dynaClass = (new WrapDynaBean(myPojo)).getDynaClass();
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(dynaClass);

        // for example For DynaBeans
        DynaClass dynaClass = new BasicDynaClass(properties);
        List lazyList = new LazyDynaList(dynaClass);

N.B. You may wonder why control the type using a `DynaClass</code> rather than the <code>Class` as in the previous example - the reason is that some `DynaBean` implementations don't have a default empty constructor and therefore need to be instantiated using the `DynaClass.newInstance()` method.

## Example 4

A slight variation - set the element type using either the `setElementType(Class)` method or the `setElementDynaClass(DynaClass)` method - then populate with the normal `List` methods (i.e. `add()`, `addAll()` or `set()`).

     // Create a new LazyDynaList (100 element capacity)
     LazyDynaList lazyList = new LazyDynaList(100);

     // Either Set the element type...
     lazyList.setElementType(TreeMap.class);

     // ...or the element DynaClass...
     lazyList.setElementDynaClass(new MyCustomDynaClass());

     // Populate from a collection
     lazyList.addAll(myCollection);

Since:
  1.8.0
See Also:
  - Serialized Form

- ## Field Summary

  ### Fields inherited from class java.util.AbstractList

  `modCount`

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `LazyDynaList()`
  Constructs a new instance.
  `LazyDynaList(int capacity)`
  Constructs a LazyDynaList with the specified capacity.
  `LazyDynaList(Class<?> elementType)`
  Constructs a LazyDynaList with a specified type for its elements.
  `LazyDynaList(Object[] array)`
  Constructs a LazyDynaList populated with the elements of an Array.
  `LazyDynaList(Collection<?> collection)`
  Constructs a LazyDynaList populated with the elements of a Collection.
  `LazyDynaList(DynaClass elementDynaClass)`
  Constructs a LazyDynaList with a specified DynaClass for its elements.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `void`
  `add(int index, Object element)`
  Insert an element at the specified index position.
  `boolean`
  `add(Object element)`
  Add an element to the List.
  `boolean`
  `addAll(int index, Collection<?> collection)`
  Insert all the elements from a Collection into the list at a specified position.
  `boolean`
  `addAll(Collection<?> collection)`
  Add all the elements from a Collection to the list.
  `Object`
  `get(int index)`
  Return the element at the specified position.
  `Object`
  `set(int index, Object element)`
  Set the element at the specified position.
  `void`
  `setElementDynaClass(DynaClass elementDynaClass)`
  Set the element Type and DynaClass.
  `void`
  `setElementType(Class<?> elementType)`
  Set the element Type and DynaClass.
  `Object[]`
  `toArray()`
  Converts the List to an Array.
  `<T> T[]`
  `toArray(T[] model)`
  Converts the List to an Array of the specified type.
  `DynaBean[]`
  `toDynaBeanArray()`
  Converts the List to an DynaBean Array.

  ### Methods inherited from class java.util.ArrayList

  `clear, clone, contains, ensureCapacity, forEach, indexOf, isEmpty, iterator, lastIndexOf, listIterator, listIterator, remove, remove, removeAll, removeIf, removeRange, replaceAll, retainAll, size, sort, spliterator, subList, trimToSize`

  ### Methods inherited from class java.util.AbstractList

  `equals, hashCode`

  ### Methods inherited from class java.util.AbstractCollection

  `containsAll, toString`

  ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

  `finalize, getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

  ### Methods inherited from interface java.util.Collection

  `parallelStream, stream`

  ### Methods inherited from interface java.util.List

  `containsAll, equals, hashCode`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### LazyDynaList

    public LazyDynaList()
    Constructs a new instance.

  - ### LazyDynaList

    public LazyDynaList(Class<?> elementType)
    Constructs a LazyDynaList with a specified type for its elements.
    Parameters:
      `elementType` - The Type of the List's elements.

  - ### LazyDynaList

    public LazyDynaList(Collection<?> collection)
    Constructs a LazyDynaList populated with the elements of a Collection.
    Parameters:
      `collection` - The Collection to populate the List from.

  - ### LazyDynaList

    public LazyDynaList(DynaClass elementDynaClass)
    Constructs a LazyDynaList with a specified DynaClass for its elements.
    Parameters:
      `elementDynaClass` - The DynaClass of the List's elements.

  - ### LazyDynaList

    public LazyDynaList(int capacity)
    Constructs a LazyDynaList with the specified capacity.
    Parameters:
      `capacity` - The initial capacity of the list.

  - ### LazyDynaList

    public LazyDynaList(Object[] array)
    Constructs a LazyDynaList populated with the elements of an Array.
    Parameters:
      `array` - The Array to populate the List from.

- ## Method Details

  - ### add

    public void add(int index, Object element)

    Insert an element at the specified index position.

    If the index position is greater than the current size of the List, then the List is automatically grown to the appropriate size.

    Specified by:
      `add` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `add` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Parameters:
      `index` - The index position to insert the new element.
      `element` - The new element to add.

  - ### add

    public boolean add(Object element)

    Add an element to the List.

    Specified by:
      `add` in interface `Collection<Object>`
    Specified by:
      `add` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `add` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Parameters:
      `element` - The new element to add.
    Returns:
      true.

  - ### addAll

    public boolean addAll(Collection<?> collection)

    Add all the elements from a Collection to the list.

    Specified by:
      `addAll` in interface `Collection<Object>`
    Specified by:
      `addAll` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `addAll` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Parameters:
      `collection` - The Collection of new elements.
    Returns:
      true if elements were added.

  - ### addAll

    public boolean addAll(int index, Collection<?> collection)

    Insert all the elements from a Collection into the list at a specified position.

    If the index position is greater than the current size of the List, then the List is automatically grown to the appropriate size.

    Specified by:
      `addAll` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `addAll` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Parameters:
      `index` - The index position to insert the new elements at.
      `collection` - The Collection of new elements.
    Returns:
      true if elements were added.

  - ### get

    public Object get(int index)

    Return the element at the specified position.

    If the position requested is greater than the current size of the List, then the List is automatically grown (and populated) to the appropriate size.

    Specified by:
      `get` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `get` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Parameters:
      `index` - The index position to insert the new elements at.
    Returns:
      The element at the specified position.

  - ### set

    public Object set(int index, Object element)

    Set the element at the specified position.

    If the position requested is greater than the current size of the List, then the List is automatically grown (and populated) to the appropriate size.

    Specified by:
      `set` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `set` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Parameters:
      `index` - The index position to insert the new element at.
      `element` - The new element.
    Returns:
      The new element.

  - ### setElementDynaClass

    public void setElementDynaClass(DynaClass elementDynaClass)

    Set the element Type and DynaClass.

    Parameters:
      `elementDynaClass` - The DynaClass of the elements.
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if the List already contains elements or the DynaClass is null.

  - ### setElementType

    public void setElementType(Class<?> elementType)

    Set the element Type and DynaClass.

    Parameters:
      `elementType` - The type of the elements.
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if the List already contains elements or the DynaClass is null.

  - ### toArray

    public Object[] toArray()

    Converts the List to an Array.

    The type of Array created depends on the contents of the List:

    - If the List contains only LazyDynaMap type elements then a java.util.Map[] array will be created.
    - If the List contains only elements which are "wrapped" DynaBeans then an Object[] of the most suitable type will be created.
    - ...otherwise a DynaBean[] will be created.
    Specified by:
      `toArray` in interface `Collection<Object>`
    Specified by:
      `toArray` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `toArray` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Returns:
      An Array of the elements in this List.

  - ### toArray

    public <T> T[] toArray(T[] model)

    Converts the List to an Array of the specified type.

    Specified by:
      `toArray` in interface `Collection<Object>`
    Specified by:
      `toArray` in interface `List<Object>`
    Overrides:
      `toArray` in class `ArrayList<Object>`
    Type Parameters:
      `T` - The type of the array elements
    Parameters:
      `model` - The model for the type of array to return
    Returns:
      An Array of the elements in this List.

  - ### toDynaBeanArray

    public DynaBean[] toDynaBeanArray()

    Converts the List to an DynaBean Array.

    Returns:
      A DynaBean[] of the elements in this List.