✅ If you want to copy elements from any collection to an array in just one line, here’s how you do it in Java:
🧾 Syntax (Java 11+ recommended):
Object[] array = collection.toArray();
This gives you a plain Object[] array — works with any Collection.
🧠 If you want a typed array (e.g. String[], Integer[]), use this one-liner:
String[] array = list.toArray(new String[0]);
- The
new String[0]is a type hint. - Java will create a new array of the correct size and type.
- This works with any type-safe collection.
✅ Examples:
List to array:
List<String> list = List.of("apple", "banana", "cherry");
String[] array = list.toArray(new String[0]); // one-liner
Set to array:
Set<Integer> set = Set.of(1, 2, 3);
Integer[] array = set.toArray(new Integer[0]);
🚀 Java 16+ alternative using streams:
String[] array = list.stream().toArray(String[]::new);
But the toArray(new T[0]) approach is still preferred for simplicity and performance.
🧠 TL;DR
| Goal | One-liner |
|---|---|
| Object[] array | collection.toArray() |
| Typed array (e.g. String[]) | collection.toArray(new String[0]) |