Program to convert Array to Set in Java

Array is a group of like-typed variables that are referred to by a common name. An array can contain primitives data types as well as objects of a class depending on the definition of the array. In the case of primitives data types, the actual values are stored in contiguous memory locations. In case of objects of a class, the actual objects are stored in the heap segment. Set in Java is a part of java.util package and extends java.util.Collection interface. It does not allow the use of duplicate elements and at max can accommodate only one null element. Few important features of Java Set interface are as follows:

• The set interface is an unordered collection of objects in which duplicate values cannot be stored.
• The Java Set does not provide control over the position of insertion or deletion of elements.
• Basically, Set is implemented by HashSet, LinkedHashSet or TreeSet (sorted representation).
• Set has various methods to add, remove clear, size, etc to enhance the usage of this interface.

Examples:

Input: Array: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal] 
Output: Set: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal] 

Input: Array: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
Output: Set: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Below are methods to convert Array to Set in Java:

Method 1: Brute Force or Naive Method: In this method, an empty Set is created and all elements present of the Array are added to it one by one.

Algorithm:

1. Get the Array to be converted.
2. Create an empty Set
3. Iterate through the items in the Array.
4. For each item, add it to the Set
5. Return the formed Set

Example:

Array: [Geeks, forGeeks, A Computer Portal]
Set: [A Computer Portal, Geeks, forGeeks]

Way 2: Using Arrays.asList() method: In this method, the Array is passed as the parameter into the Set constructor in the form of an Array with the help of Arrays.asList() method.

Algorithm:

1. Get the Array to be converted.
2. Create the Set by passing the Array as parameter in the constructor of the Set with the help of Arrays.asList() method
3. Return the formed Set

Example

Array: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal]
Set: [A computer Portal, Geeks, forGeeks]

Way 3: Using Collections.addAll(): Since Set is a part of the Collection package in Java. Therefore the Array can be converted into the Set with the help of Collections.addAll() method. 

Algorithm:

1. Get the Array to be converted.
2. Create an empty Set.
3. Add the array into the Set by passing it as the parameter to the Collections.addAll() method.
4. Return the formed Set

Output:

Array: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal]
Set: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal]

Way 4: Using Java 8 Stream API: HashSet constructor can take another collection object to construct a new set containing the elements of the specified array. Algorithm:

1. Get the Array to be converted.
2. Convert the array to Stream
3. Convert the Stream to Set using Collectors.toSet()
4. Collect the formed set using collect() method
5. Return the formed Set

Array: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal]
Set: [A computer Portal, Geeks, forGeeks]

Way 5: Using Guava Sets.newHashSet(): Sets.newHashSet() creates a mutable HashSet instance containing the elements of the specified array. Algorithm:

1. Get the Array to be converted.
2. Create an empty Set.
3. Add the array into the Set by passing it as the parameter to the Sets.newHashSet() method.
4. Return the formed Set.

Output:

Array: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal]
Set: [Geeks, forGeeks, A computer Portal]

Way 6: Using Set.of() method : To use this method, we have to import the package java.util. It is introduced in java 9. This is a static factory method that is used to return the set object. This method will return the immutable set instance but we can make it a mutable set by giving it inside the constructor of HashSet. First, input the array element and declare the set object. Call the method for converting an array to set. Now, pass the array as a parameter and return the statement new Hashset<>(Set.of(arrayname)).