Question: I want to create a list with my database field values.
There are 2 columns, name and surname.
I want to create a list that stores all names in name column in a field and then add to my DTO.

Is this possible?

Answer: 
**Steps you can follow**: -

* First you need to have a `List<String>` that will store all your names. Declare it like this: -

```
List<String> nameList = new ArrayList<String>();

```
* Now, you have all the records fetched and stored in `ResultSet`. So I assume that you can iterate over `ResultSet` and get each `values` from it. You need to use `ResultSet#getString` to fetch the `name`.
* Now, each time you fetch one record, get the `name` field and add it to your list.

```
while(resultSet.next()) {
    nameList.add(resultSet.getString("name"));
}

```
* Now, since you haven't given enough information about your `DTO`, so that part you need to find out, how to add this `ArrayList` to your `DTO`.
* The above `list` only contains `name` and not `surname` as you wanted only `name`. But if you want both, you need to create a custom DTO `(FullName)`, that
contains `name` and `surname` as fields. And instantiate it from
every `ResultSet` and add it to the `List<FullName>`
It is. What have you tried ? 

To access the database, you need to [use JDBC](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/jdbc/basics/index.html) and execute a query, giving you a `ResultSet`.

I would create an class called `FullName` with 2 String fields `name` and `surname`. Just populate these in a loop using 

```
rs.getString("NAME");  // column name
rs.getString("SURNAME");

```

e.g.

```
List<FullName> fullnames = new ArrayList<FullName>();
while (rs.next()) {
    fullnames.add(new FullName(rs));
}

```

Note that I'm populating the object via the `ResultSet` object directly. You may choose instead to implement a constructor taking the 2 name fields.

Note also that I'm creating a `Fullname` object. So the firstname/surname are kept separate and you have the freedom to add initials etc. later. You may prefer to rename this `Person` and that will give you the freedom to add additional attributes going forwards.