Java8 internal iteration

Question

Does java8 forEach method use an iterator or not really? I google it to the bone, could not find it precisely. Only the fact that it will iterate in the same order the data are.

Any tips?

Answer 1

The default implementation of Iterable#forEach is based on a iterator.

    default void forEach(Consumer<? super T> action) {
        Objects.requireNonNull(action);
        for (T t : this) {
            action.accept(t);
        }
    }

But in ArrayList is overridden to this, and not uses the iterator, it uses a for loop over its internal array

    @Override
    public void forEach(Consumer<? super E> action) {
        Objects.requireNonNull(action);
        final int expectedModCount = modCount;
        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
        final E[] elementData = (E[]) this.elementData;
        final int size = this.size;
        for (int i=0; modCount == expectedModCount && i < size; i++) {
            action.accept(elementData[i]);
        }
        if (modCount != expectedModCount) {
            throw new ConcurrentModificationException();
        }
    }

So it depends of its implementation.

Anyway, since this method is declared in Iterable interface, all iterables has this method.