Initializing ArrayList with some predefined values [duplicate]

try this

new String[] {"One","Two","Three","Four"};

or

List<String> places = Arrays.asList("One", "Two", "Three");

ARRAYS

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.

How about using overloaded ArrayList constructor.

 private ArrayList<String> symbolsPresent = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(new String[] {"One","Two","Three","Four"}));

You can also use the varargs syntax to make your code cleaner:

Use the overloaded constructor:

ArrayList<String> list = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList("a", "b", "c"));

Subclass ArrayList in a utils module:

public class MyArrayList<T> extends ArrayList<T> {
    public MyArrayList(T... values) {
        super(Arrays.asList(values));
    }
}

ArrayList<String> list = new MyArrayList<String>("a", "b", "c");

Or have a static factory method (my preferred approach):

public class Utils {
  public static <T> ArrayList<T> asArrayList(T... values) {
    return new ArrayList<T>(Arrays.asList(values));
  }
}

ArrayList<String> list = Utils.asArrayList("a", "b", "c");

import com.google.common.collect.Lists;

...


ArrayList<String> getSymbolsPresent = Lists.newArrayList("item 1", "item 2");

...