Use this code for that,

import java.util.Arrays;  
import java.util.List;  
import java.util.ArrayList;  

public class StringArrayTest {

   public static void main(String[] args) {  
      String[] words = {"ace", "boom", "crew", "dog", "eon"};  

      List<String> wordList = Arrays.asList(words);  

      for (String e : wordList) {  
         System.out.println(e);  
      }  
   }  
}

You can do the following:

String [] strings = new String [] {"1", "2" };
List<String> stringList = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(strings)); //new ArrayList is only needed if you absolutely need an ArrayList

The second one creates a new array of Integers (first pass), and then adds all the elements of this new array to the list (second pass). It will thus be less efficient than the first one, which makes a single pass and doesn't create an unnecessary array of Integers.

A better way to use streams would be

List<Integer> list = Arrays.stream(ints).boxed().collect(Collectors.toList());

Which should have roughly the same performance as the first one.

Note that for such a small array, there won't be any significant difference. You should try to write correct, readable, maintainable code instead of focusing on performance.

Try something like

List<String> myList = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(s.split(",")));

• Arrays.asList documentation
• String.split documentation
• ArrayList(Collection) constructor documentation

Demo:

String s = "lorem,ipsum,dolor,sit,amet";

List<String> myList = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(s.split(",")));

System.out.println(myList);  // prints [lorem, ipsum, dolor, sit, amet]