In Java, a collection refers to a framework that provides an architecture to store and manipulate a group of objects. The Java collections framework is a set of classes and interfaces that implement commonly reusable collection data structures. It includes interfaces such as Set, List, Queue, and Deque, along with classes like ArrayList, Vector, LinkedList, PriorityQueue, HashSet, LinkedHashSet, TreeSet, HashMap, TreeMap, and LinkedHashMap.
The primary purpose of the Java collections framework is to provide a unified architecture for storing and manipulating groups of objects. Before the introduction of the collections framework, the standard methods for grouping Java objects were via arrays, Vector, and Hashtable, each with different methods and syntax for accessing members. The collections framework addressed the need for a common interface to deal with the problems associated with these independent implementations, making it easier for users to remember methods, syntax, and constructors present in every collection class.
In summary, a collection in Java represents a single unit of objects, and the Java collections framework provides a comprehensive set of interfaces and classes to store and manipulate groups of objects efficiently and effectively.
