String vs StringBuffer vs StringBuilder
Difference between
String, StringBuffer and StringBuilder in Java
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String:- Immutable sequence of characters; best for fixed or constant text that does not change.
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StringBuffer:- Mutable and thread-safe; suitable for strings that are frequently modified in multi-threaded applications.
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StringBuilder:- Mutable and faster but not thread-safe; ideal for strings that are frequently modified in single-threaded environments.
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The following table highlights the key differences between
String,StringBufferandStringBuilderin Java:
| Feature | String | StringBuffer | StringBuilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutability | The String class creates immutable objects, meaning once a string is created, it cannot be modified. Any modification results in the creation of a new object. |
The StringBuffer class creates mutable objects, meaning the content can be modified without creating a new object. |
The StringBuilder class also creates mutable objects, allowing changes to be made directly without creating new objects. |
| Thread-Safety | The String class is inherently thread-safe because it is immutable, so multiple threads can share it without any issues. |
The StringBuffer class is synchronized, which means it is thread-safe and can be used safely in multi-threaded environments. |
The StringBuilder class is not synchronized, meaning it is not thread-safe and should only be used in single-threaded environments. |
| Performance | The String class is slower for repeated modifications because each modification creates a new object in memory. |
The StringBuffer class is slower than StringBuilder because synchronization adds extra overhead. |
The StringBuilder class is faster than StringBuffer because it does not have synchronization overhead. |
| Package | The String class is present in the java.lang package. |
The StringBuffer class is present in the java.lang package. |
The StringBuilder class is present in the java.lang package. |
| Introduced In | The String class was introduced in JDK 1.0. |
The StringBuffer class was introduced in JDK 1.0. |
The StringBuilder class was introduced in JDK 1.5. |
| Usage | The String class is used when the string content will remain constant and no modifications are required. |
The StringBuffer class is used when strings need to be modified frequently in a multi-threaded environment. |
The StringBuilder class is used when strings need to be modified frequently in a single-threaded environment for better performance. |
| Example |
String s = "Hello";
|
StringBuffer sb =
new StringBuffer("Hello");
|
StringBuilder sb =
new StringBuilder("Hello");
|
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