Traditional way

List<Integer> numbers = ...

for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length(); i++) {
    if (i % 2 == 0) {
        Integer value = numbers.get(i);
        if (value % 2 == 0) {
            // do something to value
        }
    }
}

Pros:
– an iconic way
– can access to both index and value at the same time

Cons:
– too much code

Use:
– when you need to know the index of the element in a loop.

The Iterator way

In Java, Array and Collection all implement Iterable which returns an Iterator.

List<Integer> numbers = ...

for (Iterator<Integer> it = numbers.iterator(); it.hasNext();) {
    Integer value = it.next();
    if (value % 2 == 0) {
        it.remove();
    }
}

If you need to know the index, use ListIterator (only work with List):

List<Integer> numbers = ...

for (ListIterator<Integer> it = numbers.listIterator(); it.hasNext();) {
    Integer index = it.nextIndex();
    Integer value = it.next();
    if (index % 2 == 0 && value % 2 == 0) {
        it.remove();
    }
}

Pros:
– supports iterator over all kinds of Collection types (Set, Queue, etc)
– can remove elements during iteration.
– faster than Tranditional way in case of LinkedList or other Collection implementation where random access is time-consuming.

Cons:
– too much code

The Enhanced for way

This is the most recommended way since Java 5 if you just need to iterate over a Collection without the need to access to the index.

List<Integer> numbers = ...

// read as "for each number in numbers"
for (Integer number : numbers) {
    if (number % 2 == 0) {
        // do something with number
    }
}

Tips:

To iterate over an entire java.util.Map, please use this:

Map<String, Object> cache = ...

for (Map.Entry<String, Object> entry : cache.entrySet()) {
    doSomeThingTo(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
}

Pros:
– simple, easy to read
– keep variables’ scopes clean (especially in nested loops)

Cons:
– cannot access to the index of the element (well, not every time we need it actually)

The Java 8 way (or the function way or the lambda way)

In Java 8, Stream API has been introduce which makes it very easy to iterate and do somthing no elements of a Collection.

List<Integer> numbers = ...

numbers.stream()
    .filter(number -> numbers % 2 == 0)
        .forEach(number -> doSomething(number));

// or simply

numbers.forEach(number -> doSomething(number));

Pros:
– easy to write and read
– method chain
– lazy evaluate

Cons
– the API has quite a lot of methods so it takes time to master all of them.