Question

On the one hand;

String first = "thing";

String second = "thing";

if(first == second)

System.out.print( "Same things" );    //this is printed

On the other hand;

String first = "thing";

String second = new String("thing");

if(first == second)
{
 System.out.print("Same things");
}
else
{
 System.out.print("Different things"); //This is printed
}

I know that ” == ” operator is using for the comparison of references of two objects, but in the first example, I compared the values of objects directly. I know this kind of comparison is inexact. But why do I get the message in first example? Is it an indicator that references are the same, or is it occured by a coincidence?

Answer 1

in first example String pool was used – if you don’t use new keyword – every new instance of String lands on that pool, and if String with same value is created – no new object is made – that one on pool is being used.