Understanding the Distinction between Null and Empty Strings
In Java programming, strings play a crucial role. However, the difference between a null string and an empty string ("") can often pose a challenge. Despite seemingly similar, they hold significant distinctions.
What's the Difference?
Null String:
Empty String:
In the provided code snippet:
String a = ""; String b = null;
a is assigned an empty string, while b is assigned null.
System.out.println(a == b); // false
The == operator compares the references of the strings, which are different in this case.
System.out.println(a.equals(b)); // false
The equals method compares the content of the strings. Since b is null and you cannot call methods on null references, it returns false.
To visualize the difference, consider the following analogy:
Null String: A bookshelf with no books. It's empty, but it exists as a physical entity.
Empty String: An empty bookshelf. It has no books, but it's still a bookshelf.
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