This is a general answer. The various ways to update the adapter data are explained. The process includes two main steps every time:

1. Update the data set
2. Notify the adapter of the change

Insert single item

Add “Pig” at index 2.

String item = "Pig";
int insertIndex = 2;
data.add(insertIndex, item);
adapter.notifyItemInserted(insertIndex);

Insert multiple items

Insert three more animals at index 2.

ArrayList<String> items = new ArrayList<>();
items.add("Pig");
items.add("Chicken");
items.add("Dog");
int insertIndex = 2;
data.addAll(insertIndex, items);
adapter.notifyItemRangeInserted(insertIndex, items.size());

Remove a single item

Remove “Pig” from the list.

int removeIndex = 2;
data.remove(removeIndex);
adapter.notifyItemRemoved(removeIndex);

Remove multiple items

Remove “Camel” and “Sheep” from the list.

int startIndex = 2; // inclusive
int endIndex = 4;   // exclusive
int count = endIndex - startIndex; // 2 items will be removed
data.subList(startIndex, endIndex).clear();
adapter.notifyItemRangeRemoved(startIndex, count);

Remove all items

Clear the whole list.

data.clear();
adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();

Replace old list with the new list

Clear the old list then add a new one.

// clear old list
data.clear();

// add new list
ArrayList<String> newList = new ArrayList<>();
newList.add("Lion");
newList.add("Wolf");
newList.add("Bear");
data.addAll(newList);

// notify adapter
adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();

The adapter has a reference to data, so it is important that I didn’t set data to a new object. Instead, I cleared the old items from data and then added the new ones.

Update single item

Change the “Sheep” item so that it says “I like sheep.”

String newValue = "I like sheep.";
int updateIndex = 3;
data.set(updateIndex, newValue);
adapter.notifyItemChanged(updateIndex);

Move a single item

Move “Sheep” from position 3 to position 1.

int fromPosition = 3;
int toPosition = 1;

// update data array
String item = data.get(fromPosition);
data.remove(fromPosition);
data.add(toPosition, item);

// notify adapter
adapter.notifyItemMoved(fromPosition, toPosition);

Code

Here is the project code for your reference. The RecyclerView Adapter code can be found at this answer.

MainActivity.java

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements MyRecyclerViewAdapter.ItemClickListener {

    List<String> data;
    MyRecyclerViewAdapter adapter;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        // data to populate the RecyclerView with
        data = new ArrayList<>();
        data.add("Horse");
        data.add("Cow");
        data.add("Camel");
        data.add("Sheep");
        data.add("Goat");

        // set up the RecyclerView
        RecyclerView recyclerView = findViewById(R.id.rvAnimals);
        LinearLayoutManager layoutManager = new LinearLayoutManager(this);
        recyclerView.setLayoutManager(layoutManager);
        DividerItemDecoration dividerItemDecoration = new DividerItemDecoration(recyclerView.getContext(),
                layoutManager.getOrientation());
        recyclerView.addItemDecoration(dividerItemDecoration);
        adapter = new MyRecyclerViewAdapter(this, data);
        adapter.setClickListener(this);
        recyclerView.setAdapter(adapter);
    }

    @Override
    public void onItemClick(View view, int position) {
        Toast.makeText(this, "You clicked " + adapter.getItem(position) + " on row number " + position, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }

    public void onButtonClick(View view) {
        insertSingleItem();
    }

    private void insertSingleItem() {
        String item = "Pig";
        int insertIndex = 2;
        data.add(insertIndex, item);
        adapter.notifyItemInserted(insertIndex);
    }

    private void insertMultipleItems() {
        ArrayList<String> items = new ArrayList<>();
        items.add("Pig");
        items.add("Chicken");
        items.add("Dog");
        int insertIndex = 2;
        data.addAll(insertIndex, items);
        adapter.notifyItemRangeInserted(insertIndex, items.size());
    }

    private void removeSingleItem() {
        int removeIndex = 2;
        data.remove(removeIndex);
        adapter.notifyItemRemoved(removeIndex);
    }

    private void removeMultipleItems() {
        int startIndex = 2; // inclusive
        int endIndex = 4;   // exclusive
        int count = endIndex - startIndex; // 2 items will be removed
        data.subList(startIndex, endIndex).clear();
        adapter.notifyItemRangeRemoved(startIndex, count);
    }

    private void removeAllItems() {
        data.clear();
        adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
    }

    private void replaceOldListWithNewList() {
        // clear old list
        data.clear();

        // add new list
        ArrayList<String> newList = new ArrayList<>();
        newList.add("Lion");
        newList.add("Wolf");
        newList.add("Bear");
        data.addAll(newList);

        // notify adapter
        adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
    }

    private void updateSingleItem() {
        String newValue = "I like sheep.";
        int updateIndex = 3;
        data.set(updateIndex, newValue);
        adapter.notifyItemChanged(updateIndex);
    }

    private void moveSingleItem() {
        int fromPosition = 3;
        int toPosition = 1;

        // update data array
        String item = data.get(fromPosition);
        data.remove(fromPosition);
        data.add(toPosition, item);

        // notify adapter
        adapter.notifyItemMoved(fromPosition, toPosition);
    }
}

Notes

• If you use notifyDataSetChanged(), then no animation will be performed. This can also be an expensive operation, so it is not recommended to use notifyDataSetChanged() if you are only updating a single item or a range of items.
• Check out DiffUtil if you are making large or complex changes to a list.

Further study

• CodePath: Using the RecyclerView
• Smart way to update RecyclerView using DiffUtil