Question

Consider the following code snippet in Java:

Customer obj1 = new  Customer();  
Customer obj2 = new Customer();  
Customer obj3 = obj2;  
obj3 = obj1;   

How many reference variables and objects are created here?
The solutions I came across were all confusing. Please explain.

Answer 1

Customer Obj1= new  Customer();  

// Customer object is created on the heap and obj1 refers it

Customer Obj2= new Customer();  

//Customer object is created on the heap and obj2 refers it

Customer Obj3= Obj2;  

// obj3 will refer to customer object created by obj2

 Obj3= Obj1;   

// obj3 (previosly refering to cust obj craeted by obj2 will be lost) and will now refer to cust obj created by obj1

Thus i would say 2 objects and 3 ref variables

• obj1 and obj3 refering to Object created by obj1
• obj2 refers to Object created by obj2 itself