How to Handle ConcurrentModificationException When Modifying an ArrayList While Iterating

When iterating through an ArrayList, attempting to remove elements during the iteration can result in a java.util.ConcurrentModificationException. This occurs due to the ArrayList's fail-fast mechanism, which detects any changes to the list's structure during iteration and throws the exception to prevent unexpected results.

To resolve this issue, there are two primary approaches to consider:

Option 1: Create a List of Values to Remove

This approach involves identifying the elements to be removed within the loop and adding them to a separate list. Once the iteration is complete, remove all the elements from the original list using the removeAll() method.

ArrayList valuesToRemove = new ArrayList();

for (A a : abc) {
    if (a.shouldBeRemoved()) {
        valuesToRemove.add(a);
    }
}

abc.removeAll(valuesToRemove);

Option 2: Use Iterator Remove

Alternatively, you can utilize the iterator's own remove() method. However, note that this approach requires using the traditional for loop rather than the enhanced for loop.

for (Iterator iterator = abc.iterator(); iterator.hasNext();) {
    A a = iterator.next();
    if (a.shouldBeRemoved()) {
        iterator.remove();
    }
}

By implementing one of these approaches, you can avoid the ConcurrentModificationException while effectively modifying your ArrayList during iteration.