Java - Automatic String interning within constructors

Question

Let's say I have a class as follows:

class Apple {

    String apple;

    Apple(String apple) {
        this.apple = apple;
    }
}

What makes the following code true?

public boolean result() {
    Apple a = new Apple("apple");
    Apple b = new Apple("apple");

    return a.apple == b.apple;
}

Does Java automatically intern Strings set within instances of my objects?

Is the only time that Java doesn't intern Strings is when they're created using new String("...")?

EDIT:

Thanks for the answers, an extension to this question would then be to say

Apple a = new Apple(new String("apple"));
Apple b = new Apple(new String("apple"));

returns false with the same test.

This is because I am passing an instance of String into the constructor as opposed to a String literal.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

4

Does Java automatically intern Strings set within instances of my objects?

The point is: when you create first Apple a, JVM provide an instance of String containing "apple". This String is added to StringPool.

So when you create the second Apple b, the String is reused, then you have same object reference in a.apple and b.apple:

EXAMPLE:

Apple a = new Apple("apple");
Apple b = new Apple(new String("apple"));

System.out.println(a.apple == b.apple);

OUTPUT:

false

Is the only time that Java doesn't intern Strings is when they're created using new String("...")?

If you compare String objects with == you compare object references, not content.

To compare the contents of a String use String::equals() or String::intern()

EXAMPLE

    // declaration
    String a = "a";
    String b = "a";
    String c = new String("a");

    // check references 
    System.out.println("AB>>" + (a == b));  // true, a & b references same memory position
    System.out.println("AC>>" + (a == c));  // false, a & c are different strings
    // as logic states if a == b && a != c then b != c.

    // using equals
    System.out.println("ACe>" + (a.equals(c))); // true, because compares content!!!!
     
    // using intern()
    System.out.println("ABi>" + (a.intern() == b.intern()));  // true
    System.out.println("BCi>" + (b.intern() == c.intern()));  // true

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edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 12, 2016 at 10:03

Jordi Castilla

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6 Comments

wild_nothing Over a year ago

Ah, I see. And even if I used Apple a = new Apple(new String("apple")); Apple b = new Apple(new String("apple")); the result would still be false.

Jordi Castilla Over a year ago

@wild_nothing yes, p`lease check my update, I hope it clarifies, but don't hesitate to ask if you need further clarification

markthegrea Over a year ago

Can you answer this question above: Is the only time that Java doesn't intern Strings is when they're created using new String("...")?

Jordi Castilla Over a year ago

@markthegrea actually it is already explained in the second part of the answer, you need clarification in some point??

markthegrea Over a year ago

Sorry, but I don't see it. Seems it is a yes or no question. You just have some examples that don't show if it is interned or not.

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Bathsheba · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-12 10:03:16Z

1

The field apple within Apple is a reference to a String.

In your case that reference is referring to an interned string, since you've instantiated the Apple using a string literal which will be interned.

And since a and b are created from the same interned string, a.apple refers to the same string as b.apple.

Indeed Java cannot intern a string if you use new String.

answered Jul 12, 2016 at 10:03

Bathsheba

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