1. Size
Array: Fixed size. Once you define the size of an array, it cannot change.
ArrayList: Dynamic size. You can add or remove elements, and the size will automatically adjust.
2. Type Safety
Array: Type-safe. All elements must be of the same type (e.g., int[], string[]).
ArrayList: Not type-safe. It stores elements as object, meaning it can hold different types, but this can lead to runtime errors and requires type casting when retrieving elements.
3. Performance
Array: More efficient, as it doesn’t involve boxing/unboxing of value types, and it is better suited for scenarios with a known number of elements.
ArrayList: Slightly slower compared to arrays because it stores elements as objects, so value types need to be boxed/unboxed.
4. Generics
Array: Arrays do not use generics.
ArrayList: Non-generic. For type safety and better performance, List<T> (a generic alternative) is recommended over ArrayList.
5. When to Use
Array: When you know the exact number of elements in advance and they all have the same type.
ArrayList: When you need a dynamically resizable collection, though List<T> is preferred.
Example:
Array:
int[] numbers = new int[5]; // Fixed size
numbers[0] = 1;
numbers[1] = 2;
ArrayList:
ArrayList arrayList = new ArrayList(); // Dynamic size
arrayList.Add(1);
arrayList.Add("Hello");
int firstItem = (int)arrayList[0]; // Requires casting