Of course this is true, if you do new List() (List is an "interface", same as Map and Set too). If you do new ArrayList() (ArrayList extends List which already implements the List interface methods for you). Similarly like HashMap which extends Map interface or TreeSet which extends Set interface.
It is unusual to new List(), new Map() or new Set() directly.
Because List is an Interface and you cannot call the constructor of an interface. And ArrayList is a class which implements the List Interface and ofcourse you can call the ArrayList constructor. And according to the principle of 'run time polymorphism' you can write List l=new ArrayList(); ArrayList is a class that implements all the methods of List interface.
You showed up just in time for the waffles! And this tiny ad:
a bit of art, as a gift, that will fit in a stocking