Java String compare

We can compare string in java on the basis of content and reference.

It is used in authentication (by equals() method), sorting (by compareTo() method), reference matching (by == operator) etc.

There are three ways to compare string in java:

1. By equals() method
2. By = = operator
3. By compareTo() method

1) String compare by equals() method

The String equals() method compares the original content of the string. It compares values of string for equality. String class provides two methods:

• public boolean equals(Object another) compares this string to the specified object.
• public boolean equalsIgnoreCase(String another) compares this String to another string, ignoring case.

1. class Teststringcomparison1{  
2.  public static void main(String args[]){  
3.    String s1="Sachin";  
4.    String s2="Sachin";  
5.    String s3=new String("Sachin");  
6.    String s4="Saurav";  
7.    System.out.println(s1.equals(s2));//true  
8.    System.out.println(s1.equals(s3));//true  
9.    System.out.println(s1.equals(s4));//false  
10.  }  
11. }  

Output:true
       true
       false

1. class Teststringcomparison2{  
2.  public static void main(String args[]){  
3.    String s1="Sachin";  
4.    String s2="SACHIN";  
5.   
6.    System.out.println(s1.equals(s2));//false  
7.    System.out.println(s1.equalsIgnoreCase(s3));//true  
8.  }  
9. }  

Test it Now

Output:false
       true

Click me for more about equals() method

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2) String compare by == operator

The = = operator compares references not values.

1. class Teststringcomparison3{  
2.  public static void main(String args[]){  
3.    String s1="Sachin";  
4.    String s2="Sachin";  
5.    String s3=new String("Sachin");  
6.    System.out.println(s1==s2);//true (because both refer to same instance)  
7.    System.out.println(s1==s3);//false(because s3 refers to instance created in nonpool)  
8.  }  
9. }  

Output:true
       false

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3) String compare by compareTo() method

The String compareTo() method compares values lexicographically and returns an integer value that describes if first string is less than, equal to or greater than second string.

Suppose s1 and s2 are two string variables. If:

• s1 == s2 :0
• s1 > s2   :positive value
• s1 < s2   :negative value

1. class Teststringcomparison4{  
2.  public static void main(String args[]){  
3.    String s1="Sachin";  
4.    String s2="Sachin";  
5.    String s3="Ratan";  
6.    System.out.println(s1.compareTo(s2));//0  
7.    System.out.println(s1.compareTo(s3));//1(because s1>s3)  
8.    System.out.println(s3.compareTo(s1));//-1(because s3 < s1 )  
9.  }  
10. }  

Output:0
       1
       -1