How do I determine whether an array contains a particular value in Java?

Question

I have a String[] with values like so:

public static final String[] VALUES = new String[] {\"AB\",\"BC\",\"CD\",\"AE\"};

Given

Answer 1

Actually, if you use HashSet as Tom Hawtin proposed you don't need to worry about sorting, and your speed is the same as with binary search on a presorted array, probably even faster.

It all depends on how your code is set up, obviously, but from where I stand, the order would be:

On an unsorted array:

1. HashSet
2. asList
3. sort & binary

On a sorted array:

1. HashSet
2. Binary
3. asList

So either way, HashSet for the win.