“Iterable cannot be cast to List” - Isn't `List` a type of `Iterable`?

Question

I called a getElements method which returns Iterable.

I did this:

List elements = (List

        

Answer 1

List is a type of Iterable, but that doesn't mean that all Iterable objects are List objects. You can cast a List as an Iterable, but not the other way around.

An apple is a type of fruit, but that doesn't mean that all fruits are apples. You can cast an apple as a fruit, but not the other way around.