While loop in Java, string comparison does not work

Question

Possible Duplicate:
How do I compare strings in Java?

I'm working on a small program that asks for your name using a Scanner. If you enter blankstring, then I would like the console to display a message.

Here's what I tried doing:

import java.util.Scanner; 
public class Adventure
{  
    public static void main(String[] args) 
    {      
        Scanner myScan = new Scanner (System.in);                             
        System.out.println("What's your name?");                                 
        String name = myScan.nextLine();

        while (!(name == ""))   //Always returns false.
        {
            System.out.println("That's not your name. Please try again.");
            name = myScan.nextLine();
        }

        System.out.println("It's a pleasure to meet you, " + name + ".");
    }
}

The code never enters the while loop. Why?

Welcome to StackOverflow. Please be sure to provide a description of the problem you are having so others don't have to guess. — Reinstate Monica -- notmaynard, Feb 04 '13 at 21:36
-1 (This can be undone) Please write a useful title and describe the problem. In this case, look up `[java] string not equal` in the SO search for *many, many* duplicate questions. — , Feb 04 '13 at 21:37
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/513832/how-do-i-compare-strings-in-java/513839#513839 — , Feb 04 '13 at 21:38

score 13 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

13

Change your condition to:

while(!name.equals("")) {

or as suggested below by m0skit0:

while(!name.isEmpty()) {

7

Or even better, `!name.isEmpty()` (only Java 6+ ofc). – m0skit0 Feb 04 '13 at 21:36
3

@m0skit0: thanks, I took the liberty to incorporate your comment into an answer. Hope you don't mind (?) And BTW [Java 6 will no longer be maintained](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/eol-135779.html) in less than a month. – Tomasz Nurkiewicz Feb 04 '13 at 21:37
1

Of course not, +1 for asking :) – m0skit0 Feb 04 '13 at 21:38

While loop in Java, string comparison does not work

1 Answers1

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