title: What is the fastest way to determine if a value is in a set of values in Java?
body: <p>This is probably a simple question for you JAVA experts, but I'm relatively new, so I thought I'd ask.  I need to test if string X exists in a set.  I don't need any associated values or indices, and I don't need any order.  I just need to know if it exists.  I know that this could be implemented using a HashMap or ArrayList, but those seem overkill.  What to do?  Just a List?  Or is there something even more basic that would serve the same purpose.  What is the fastest way to test if some string X exists in a given set?</p>