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Iterator Pattern in Java
— Walking Through Objects Without Getting Lost
Imagine walking through a library…. You don’t ask the librarian,
“Hey, what internal storage do you use for your books? Is it an array? A linked list? A shelf of shelves?”
You simply say, “Show me the next book.”
That’s what the Iterator Pattern allows us to do in software. It gives us a clean, consistent way to traverse a collection of objects — without exposing how those objects are stored internally.
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What Is the Iterator Pattern?
The Iterator Pattern is a behavioral design pattern that provides a standard way to access elements of a collection sequentially — without revealing its underlying representation (like array, list, map, or even a tree).
Formally speaking:
The Iterator Pattern provides a way to access the elements of an aggregate object sequentially without exposing its underlying representation.
It’s like having a tour guide who takes you through a city — you don’t need to know the city’s layout, roads, or infrastructure. The guide simply says, “Next stop!”
