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Java Java Basics Perfecting the Prototype String Equality

Posted by Mary Grace Solas
Mary Grace Solas
386 Points

Add an if statement that checks to see if firstExample is equal to secondExample. If it is, print out "first is equal to

what should i use?

Equality.java 
// I have imported a java.io.Console for you, it is named console. 
String firstExample = "hello";
String secondExample = "hello";
String thirdExample = "HELLO";
if (firstExample == secondExample) {
  console.printf("first is equal to second");
  System.exit(0);
}

2 Answers

Simon Coates
Simon Coates
28,694 Points
Simon Coates
Simon Coates
28,694 Points 
String firstExample = "hello";
String secondExample = "hello";
String thirdExample = "HELLO";
if (firstExample.equals(secondExample)) {
  console.printf("first is equal to second");
}

With primitives, == is fine. WIth objects, == is supposed to check that the memory location is the same memory location (literally the same object). It may work with strings (due to a behind the scenes optimization), but object equality should usually be .equals, though you may want to confirm that the object provides an equals method to override the equals method defined on the object class.

Mary Grace Solas
Mary Grace Solas
386 Points

Thank you! :)

Hussein Musse
Hussein Musse
3,024 Points
Hussein Musse
Hussein Musse
3,024 Points

Thanks mary Grace Solas Great Explaination.