Mastering Java: The Ultimate Quiz for 'Thinking in Java'

Which interface generalizes the concept of sequence in Java?

1. Map

2. List

3. Collection

4. Set

The correct answer is: Collection

A Map does not generalize the concept of sequence, as it is a data structure that associates keys with values and does not necessarily preserve the order of insertion. This means that the elements in a Map are not guaranteed to be stored in a specific sequence. A List does represent a sequence of elements, but it is specific to ordered collections that allow duplicates. The question is asking for the interface that generalizes the concept of sequence, not just a specific type of sequence like a List. A Set is an unordered collection that does not allow duplicate elements, so it does not fully generalize the concept of sequence in Java. The correct answer, Collection, is the root interface for all collection types in Java, meaning it applies to all types of collections and represents the general concept of a sequence. This interface defines behavior for adding, removing, and accessing elements in a collection, making it the most general and abstract