basics of collections

hi friends

i am new to java and at presently am getting the intial touch of java.I have read about collections and have some fundamental knowledge about it.

Now my question is that when to use hashmap and when to use hashtable,Sortlist or Array list.Can any one clarify me more about the collections.What are the other topics (or java packages) that i should focus in order to get a fast and quick grip on programming.

Thanks a lot guys in advance

I made a little Collections Crib Sheet to help me keep them all straight. Vector and Hashtable are kind of old school and I usually use the newer collections. They are synchronized, and that may be enough reason to use them some times. But we can get synchronized versions of the newer collections from the Collections class, so I stick with the new ones.

thanks a lot stan james.Hey could you guide me on getting started to java programming on a fast track.

i have got very familiar with all the concepts and fundamentls of the language but still dont feel confident.Can any one suggest me where i can have sample codes or small sample demonstration projects which uses classes,interfaces,abstract classes and all the other fundamentls of java ie super(), this, static, final etc.In this way i guess i can understand the concepts better.Also at initial level which are the packages that need to be surfed mostly and mostly used.

Can any one guide me in this direction

thanking you guys in advance and thanks a million james

yash

Please don't post the same question twice. It just wastes our time and yours.

As for learning more about Collections. You should check out the Java Tutorial in the link in my signature. It has a section that is all about the Collections API.

Layne
[ January 19, 2006: Message edited by: Layne Lund ]