Java Arraylist got java.lang.IndexOutOfBoundsException?

Question

I'm a general 3D artist, switched from my career and started to learn programming. I've got a problem with c106a handout #5.

The code works, but I've still got some error log here.

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IndexOutOfBoundsException: Index: 4, Size: 4
at java.util.ArrayList.RangeCheck(ArrayList.java:547)
at java.util.ArrayList.get(ArrayList.java:322)
at UniqueNames.showUnique(UniqueNames.java:23)
at UniqueNames.main(UniqueNames.java:39)

Why does Arraylist, which can stretch its capacity on its own, still get an OutOfBoundsException?

Here's my full code:

import acm.io.*;
import acm.program.ConsoleProgram;
import acm.util.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.lang.*;

public class UniqueNames extends ConsoleProgram{

  static ArrayList<String> meString = new ArrayList<String>();
  static String input ;

    public static void storeUnique(String input){
        if (!meString.contains(input))
           {
            meString.add(input);
            }
    }

    public static void showUnique(ArrayList<String> meString){
        System.out.println("Unique name list contains:");
        for(int i=0 ;i<= meString.size() ;i++){
            System.out.println(meString.get(i));
          }
      }

    public static void main(String[] args){

             try{
                InputStreamReader stream = new InputStreamReader(System.in);
                BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(stream);
                   while (true){
                       System.out.println("Enter name:");
                       String input = br.readLine();
                       if (input.equals("")) break;
                       storeUnique(input);
                      }  

                  {showUnique(meString);}  
                }
             catch(IOException e){
                }
    }
}

Solution 1

The following lines:

for (int i = 0; i <= meString.size(); i++) {
    System.out.println(meString.get(i));
}

should be:

for (int i = 0; i < meString.size(); i++) {
    System.out.println(meString.get(i));
}

This is because the index of the list starts from zero.

Index: 4, Size: 4 explains a little more. When you call get(4), an exception occurs because your list only has a size of 4. get(4) would attempt to access the 5th element in the list.

Valid elements you can access would be get(0), get(1), get(2), get(3).

Solution 2

Use the above answer, or you can use a foreach loop:

for (String str: meString) {
    System.out.println(str);
}

Solution 3

You asked, "Why does Arraylist, which can stretch its capacity by its own still get an OutOfBoundsException ???"
The answer is: an ArrayList only stretches its capacity when:

1. You add an object to it ( .add(Object o) ).
2. You add the contents of another collection to it ( .addAll(Collection c) ).
3. You ensure its size ( .ensureCapacity(int minCapacity) ).

The trouble you're having is that you are trying to access an object in an index of the list that doesn't exist. While an ArrayList will dynamically resize when you change the contents, it won't do it when you are simply trying to access the contents.
That is the difference.
To avoid accessing an index that doesn't exist:

1. Take Surresh Atta's suggestion: Use i < meString.size() instead of i <= meString.size() because the index starts with 0 instead of 1.
2. Take Ankit's suggestion and just use the enhanced for loop: for(String str : meString).