Iterable

　　Iterable是迭代器的意思，作用是为集合类提供for-each循环的支持。由于使用for循环需要通过位置获取元素，而这种获取方式仅有数据支持，其他数据结构，比如链表，只能通过查询获取数据，会降低效率。Iterable就可以让不同的集合类自己提供遍历的最佳方式

/**
 * Implementing this interface allows an object to be the target of
 * the "for-each loop" statement. See
 */
public interface Iterable<T> {
    /**
     * Returns an iterator over elements of type {@code T}.
     * @return an Iterator.
     */
    Iterator<T> iterator();

    /**
     * Performs the given action for each element of the {@code Iterable}
     * until all elements have been processed or the action throws an
     * exception.  Unless otherwise specified by the implementing class,
     * actions are performed in the order of iteration (if an iteration order
     * is specified).  Exceptions thrown by the action are relayed to the
     * caller.
     *
     * @since 1.8
     */
    default void forEach(Consumer<? super T> action) {
        Objects.requireNonNull(action);
        for (T t : this) {
            action.accept(t);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Creates a {@link Spliterator} over the elements described by this
     * {@code Iterable}.
     * @since 1.8
     */
    default Spliterator<T> spliterator() {
        return Spliterators.spliteratorUnknownSize(iterator(), 0);
    }
}

　　

Collection　　

　　Collection是List、Queue和Set的超集，它直接继承于Iterable，也就是所有的Collection集合类都支持for-each循环。除此之外，Collection也是面向接口编程的典范，通过它可以在多种实现类间转换

/**
 * The root interface in the <i>collection hierarchy</i>.  A collection
 * represents a group of objects, known as its <i>elements</i>.  Some
 * collections allow duplicate elements and others do not.  Some are ordered
 * and others unordered.  The JDK does not provide any <i>direct</i>
 * implementations of this interface: it provides implementations of more
 * specific subinterfaces like <tt>Set</tt> and <tt>List</tt>.  This interface
 * is typically used to pass collections around and manipulate them where
 * maximum generality is desired.
 **/
public interface Collection<E> extends Iterable<E> {
    
}

　　

AbstractCollection

　　在Collection中定义的许多方法，根据现有的定义以及继承的Iterable，都可以在抽象类中实现，这样可以减少实现类需要实现的方法

/**
 * This class provides a skeletal implementation of the <tt>Collection</tt>
 * interface, to minimize the effort required to implement this interface. <p>
 **/
public abstract class AbstractCollection<E> implements Collection<E> {

}