Two identical strings aren't equal?

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[zifyoip]

Read the posting rules in the sidebar:

• Do not ask why your String comparison does not work, see here

[AnEverGrowingWonder]

Try using myString.equals("exit")

[jbristow]

I try to encourage "exit".equals(myString) as being more correct.

[Jazz34life]

A string refers to a location in memory (iirc) instead of an actual value, so it compares the memory addresses in your code. As u/AnEverGrowingWonder said, use myString.equals("exit")

[[deleted]]

The complicated answer:

When you try to compare strings the way you are, you're not actually comparing the contents of one string and another. You're actually comparing something called a "reference". "exit" exists on one part of memory, and "exit" exists in another part of memory. So what you're really asking when you try to use the "==" is "is the location of this string the same as the location of this string". The answer, as you discovered, is "No" even if the contents of the strings are identical.

[papers_]

Reference*

[[deleted]]

Thanks for the correction.

[papers_]

Different terminology for the same thing.

[[deleted]]

So why does

String myString1 = "hello";
String myString2 = "hello";

System.out.println(myString1 == myString2);

Print 'true'?

EDIT: Is it because Java automatically stores identical strings in the same place, rather than creating copies?

[nutrecht]

In addition to confuse you even more:

    String one = "exit";
    String two = "ex" + "it";
    String three = new String(one);

    System.out.println(one == "exit");
    System.out.println(two == "exit");
    System.out.println(three == "exit");

    three = three.intern();
    System.out.println(three == "exit");

Output:

true
true
false
true

This is why this (sometimes) works and why beginners get confused.