List vs Map in Java

Question

I didnt get the sense of Maps in Java. When is it recommended to use a Map instead of a List?

thanks in advance,

nohereman

Answer 1

When you want to map instead of list. The names of those interfaces have meaning, and you shouldn't ignore it.

Use a map when you want your data structure to represent a mapping for keys to values. Use a list when you want your data to be stored in an arbitrary, ordered format.