Difference : Iterator vs ListIterator

Iterator and ListIterator differ based on following parameters:

1.      Traversal direction

Iterator allows to traverse the List, Set and Map in only forward direction. Iterator is unidirectional in nature.

ListIterator allows to traverse the List (remember only List) in both forward and backward direction. ListIterator is bidirectional.

2.      Method

Iterator has next() method, using which forward traversal is possible.

ListIterator has next() method for forward traversal and previous() method for backward traversal.

3.      Collection implementations that can be traversed

Iterator can traverse List, Set and Map.

ListIterator can only be used for List traversal.

4.      Modifying the elements while traversing

Iterator can only remove the element during iteration. It has only remove() method.

ListIterator can add, remove and set elements during iteration.

5.      Current position

Iterator cannot determine the current position of iteration during iterating over List.

ListIterator can determine the current position of iteration during iterating over List.

6.      Retrieve index

Index of the element cannot be retrieved using Iterator.

Index of the element can be retrieved using ListIterator using previousIndex() and nextIndex() method.

7.      Example

Click for iterator example

Click for ListIterator example

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