Initializing ArrayList with some predefined values [duplicate]

Answer 1

Double brace initialization is an option:

List<String> symbolsPresent = new ArrayList<String>() {{
   add("ONE");
   add("TWO");
   add("THREE");
   add("FOUR");
}};

Note that the String generic type argument is necessary in the assigned expression as indicated by JLS §15.9

It is a compile-time error if a class instance creation expression declares an anonymous class using the "<>" form for the class's type arguments.