In Kotlin, listOf and mutableListOf are functions used to create immutable and mutable lists, respectively. The primary difference between them lies in their mutability:
listOf: The listOf function creates an immutable list, meaning once the list is created, its elements cannot be added, removed, or modified. It provides a read-only view of the list’s elements. For example:
kotlin
val immutableList = listOf("apple", "banana", "orange")
mutableListOf: The mutableListOf function creates a mutable list, allowing you to add, remove, or modify elements after the list is created. Mutable lists provide flexibility in manipulating data at runtime. For example:
kotlin
val mutableList = mutableListOf("apple", "banana", "orange")
mutableList.add("grape")
ListOf creates an immutable list, while mutableListOf creates a mutable list. The choice between them depends on whether you need the ability to modify the list’s contents after creation. Immutable lists offer safety and thread-safety guarantees, while mutable lists provide flexibility but require careful handling to avoid unintended modifications.
