How does Java stream API work?

Jocelyn 64 Published: 11/06/2024

How does Java stream API work?

I'd be happy to explain how the Java Stream API works.

The Java Stream API is a set of classes and interfaces in Java Standard Edition (Java SE) that allows you to process data as a series of operations, one after another, with an emphasis on functional programming techniques such as filtering, mapping, and reducing. This API is designed for handling collections of objects, and it provides many useful methods for operating on those collections.

To understand how the Java Stream API works, let's start by looking at a simple example. Suppose you have a list of integers representing some scores:

List scores = Arrays.asList(90, 80, 70, 95, 85, 75);

And suppose you want to get the average score (after filtering out any scores below 80). Here's how you might do it using the Stream API:

double averageScore = scores.stream()

.filter(score -> score >= 80)


.mapToInt(Integer::intValue)


.average()


.orElse(0.0);

Now, let's break this down step by step.

First, we call scores.stream() to convert the list of integers into a Stream. The Stream interface represents a sequence of elements supporting parallel and functional-style operations. It's the core interface for processing data as a stream in Java.

Next, we apply a filter using .filter(score -> score >= 80). This method creates a new Stream that contains only those elements from the original stream that meet the condition specified by the lambda function (in this case, scores greater than or equal to 80).

Then, we map each integer to an int value using .mapToInt(Integer::intValue) and then call .average() to calculate the average of all these filtered integers. The average method returns an OptionalInt that contains the result, so we use .orElse(0.0) to provide a default value if the stream is empty (in this case, 0.0).

This is a simple example of how you might use the Java Stream API to process a collection of objects. The API provides many other useful methods for filtering, mapping, reducing, and more.

Here are some key concepts to keep in mind when working with streams:

Streams can be created from collections, arrays, or I/O channels. You can think of a stream as a pipeline that you can pipe data through. Each method call adds another step to the pipeline. Most methods on Stream return a new Stream that you must chain together. Some methods on Stream produce a terminal result, which means they don't return a Stream but instead produce some final value. Examples include collect, reduce, and count. Streams can be parallelized with the .parallel() method.

With this knowledge, you should have a good grasp of how to use the Java Stream API for processing collections of objects.

Java stream api tutorial for beginners

I'd be happy to help you with that! Here's a comprehensive Java Stream API tutorial for beginners:

Introduction

The Java Stream API is a powerful toolset introduced in Java 8, allowing developers to process data streams more efficiently and concisely. This API enables the creation of pipelined operations, making it easier to handle large datasets. In this tutorial, we'll explore the basics of the Java Stream API and provide practical examples to get you started.

Core Concepts

Streams: A stream is a sequence of elements that can be processed in various ways using different operations. Intermediate Operations: These are operations that transform the input stream without producing any immediate results. Examples include map(), filter(), and distinct(). Terminal Operations: These are operations that produce a final result from the input stream. Examples include collect() and forEach().

Example 1: Filtering a Stream

Let's start with a simple example, where we create a stream of integers from 1 to 10 and filter out odd numbers:

List numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);

Stream stream = numbers.stream()


.filter(n -> n % 2 == 0) // filter out odd numbers


.collect(Collectors.toList()); // collect the filtered stream


System.out.println(stream); // prints [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]

In this example, we create a stream from a list of integers and use filter() to select only even numbers. The resulting stream is then collected into a new list.

Example 2: Mapping a Stream

Now let's transform the same stream of integers by doubling each number:

List numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);

Stream stream = numbers.stream()


.map(n -> n * 2) // double each number


.collect(Collectors.toList()); // collect the transformed stream


System.out.println(stream); // prints [2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20]

Here, we use map() to apply a transformation (doubled) to each element in the stream.

Example 3: Reducing a Stream

Let's calculate the sum of all numbers in the original list using the reduce() terminal operation:

List numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);

Stream stream = numbers.stream()


.reduce((a, b) -> a + b); // calculate the sum


System.out.println(stream.get()); // prints 55

In this example, we use reduce() to apply an accumulation operation (adding numbers together) to the stream.

Best Practices and Common Mistakes

Use lambda expressions: Lambda expressions are concise and readable. Use them for intermediate operations like map() or filter(). Avoid mutable state: The Java Stream API is designed to be functional, meaning you shouldn't modify external state while processing the stream. Handle null values correctly: When using methods that return Optional or rely on null checks, consider handling null values explicitly.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we've covered the fundamentals of the Java Stream API and demonstrated practical examples for filtering, mapping, and reducing streams. Remember to follow best practices and avoid common mistakes when working with the Java Stream API. With practice and patience, you'll become proficient in using these powerful tools to process data efficiently and effectively.

Happy coding!

Related Articles