Thread: Question on String class

Hi, I know that to create an object we use the new keyword which then makes the variable a reference variable.

Are String variables already objects? if so how if we dont use the new keyword, and why have they implemented the String class to do this, thanks.

There are String variables and there are String objects.
String aStr; // define a String variable (it has a null value)
aStr = "A string"; // give the variable a value
Strings are handled differently in a shortcut manner so that you are not required to use new.
Strings are used a lot in programs so the authors decided to make it easier to use them.

At what point does a String variable become an object?

A variable is always a variable. Class variables (as opposed to primitives) can either have a null value or a reference to(address of) an object.
They "point" to the object.

ok, can you answer me two things please:

At what point does a class variable (example: String example have a reference to an object?

Also, can you tell me is there a point in having a class variable with a null value, is this not pointless?

At what point does a class variable (example: String example have a reference

When it is assigned one. That is true of all variables. They do not have values until assigned one.

point in having a class variable with a null value, is this not pointless?

Most of the time yes. But you don't always know what value you are going to assign a variable at the time you define it. You define it so other code can see it (its definition is in scope), later you give it a value when you know what value you want it to have.

Thanks for replying, but what im asking is how are String objects handled differently so that we do not need to use the new keyword?

The compiler takes care of the details.

Thank you