Iterating collections with forEach in Kotlin

Introduction

You use forEach to go through each item in a list or collection easily, doing something with each item without writing a loop yourself.

When you want to print all items in a list one by one.

When you need to apply the same action to every element, like increasing numbers or changing text.

When you want to check or process each item without changing the list itself.

When you want cleaner and simpler code instead of writing a full loop.

When you want to run a small piece of code for each item quickly.

Syntax

Kotlin

collection.forEach { item ->
    // action with item
}

The 'collection' can be a list, set, or any group of items.

Inside the curly braces, 'item' represents each element as you go through the collection.

Examples

Prints each number in the list one by one.

Kotlin

val numbers = listOf(1, 2, 3)
numbers.forEach { number ->
    println(number)
}

Uses the default name 'it' for each item to print a message.

Kotlin

val fruits = listOf("apple", "banana", "cherry")
fruits.forEach {
    println("I like $it")
}

Uses forEachIndexed to get both the position and the item.

Kotlin

val names = listOf("Anna", "Bob", "Cara")
names.forEachIndexed { index, name ->
    println("Person $index is $name")
}

Sample Program

This program prints each color in the list with the word 'Color:' before it.

Kotlin

fun main() {
    val colors = listOf("red", "green", "blue")
    colors.forEach { color ->
        println("Color: $color")
    }
}

Important Notes

forEach is simple and readable but does not change the original collection.

If you want to create a new list with changed items, use map instead.

You cannot use break or continue inside forEach like in a normal loop.

Summary

forEach helps you do something with every item in a collection easily.

It uses a small block of code that runs for each element.

Great for simple actions like printing or checking items.

Practice

1. What does the forEach function do when used on a list in Kotlin?

easy

A. It runs a block of code for each item in the list.

B. It creates a new list with modified items.

C. It removes items from the list.

D. It sorts the list in ascending order.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of forEach

   The forEach function is designed to execute a given block of code on every element in a collection.

2. Step 2: Compare options with forEach behavior

   Only It runs a block of code for each item in the list. correctly describes this behavior. Options B, C, and D describe other functions like map, remove, and sort.

3. Final Answer:

   It runs a block of code for each item in the list. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   forEach = run code on each item [OK]

Hint: forEach runs code on every element, not changing the list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing forEach with map that creates new lists
• Thinking forEach modifies the list itself
• Assuming forEach sorts or filters the list

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to print each element of a list numbers using forEach in Kotlin?

easy

A. numbers.forEach -> println(it)

B. forEach(numbers) { println(it) }

C. numbers.forEach { println(it) }

D. numbers.forEach(println(it))

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct forEach syntax

   In Kotlin, forEach is called on the collection with a lambda block: collection.forEach { item -> ... }. The shorthand uses it for the current item.

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   numbers.forEach { println(it) } matches the correct syntax. forEach(numbers) { println(it) } wrongly uses forEach as a function with the list as argument. numbers.forEach(println(it)) incorrectly calls println inside forEach parentheses. numbers.forEach -> println(it) uses an invalid arrow syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   numbers.forEach { println(it) } -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct forEach syntax = numbers.forEach { println(it) } [OK]

Hint: Use collection.forEach { println(it) } to print items [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling forEach as a standalone function
• Passing println(it) directly inside forEach parentheses
• Using arrow (->) outside lambda block

3. What will be the output of the following Kotlin code?

val fruits = listOf("apple", "banana", "cherry")
fruits.forEach { println(it.length) }

medium

A. 5 6 6

B. 5
6
6

C. apple banana cherry

D. 3 6 6

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the code behavior

   The list fruits contains three strings: "apple", "banana", and "cherry". The forEach prints the length of each string.

2. Step 2: Calculate lengths and output format

   "apple" has length 5, "banana" has length 6, "cherry" has length 6. Each println prints on a new line, so output is: 5 6 6

3. Final Answer:

   5 6 6 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Print lengths with println = lines of 5,6,6 [OK]

Hint: println prints each item on a new line [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming output is on one line separated by spaces
• Confusing string length with number of vowels
• Printing the strings instead of their lengths

4. Identify the error in this Kotlin code snippet:

val nums = listOf(1, 2, 3)
nums.forEach(i -> println(i))

medium

A. Calling println inside forEach is not allowed

B. Missing parentheses after forEach

C. Using val instead of var for list

D. Using arrow (->) instead of curly braces for lambda

Solution

1. Step 1: Check lambda syntax in Kotlin

   Kotlin uses curly braces {} for lambdas, not arrow notation like -> outside braces. The arrow is used inside the lambda to separate parameters from body.

2. Step 2: Identify the incorrect usage

   The code uses i -> println(i) directly after forEach without braces, which is invalid syntax. Correct form is nums.forEach { i -> println(i) }.

3. Final Answer:

   Using arrow (->) instead of curly braces for lambda -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Lambda needs braces {} around arrow -> [OK]

Hint: Use { param -> code } for lambdas, not (param -> code) [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using arrow notation without braces
• Confusing Kotlin lambda syntax with other languages
• Thinking val vs var affects forEach usage

5. Given a list of integers nums, how can you use forEach to print only the even numbers?

hard

A. nums.forEach { if (it % 2 == 0) println(it) }

B. nums.forEach { println(it % 2 == 0) }

C. nums.forEach { if (it / 2 == 0) println(it) }

D. nums.forEach { println(it) if (it % 2 == 0) }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the condition for even numbers

   An even number has zero remainder when divided by 2, so it % 2 == 0 checks if a number is even.

2. Step 2: Use if inside forEach to print only even numbers

   nums.forEach { if (it % 2 == 0) println(it) } correctly uses an if statement inside the lambda to print only when the condition is true. Other options either print booleans or have incorrect syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   nums.forEach { if (it % 2 == 0) println(it) } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use if inside forEach to filter printing [OK]

Hint: Use if (it % 2 == 0) inside forEach to print evens [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Printing boolean results instead of numbers
• Using division instead of modulo for even check
• Placing if after println causing syntax error