Java get the same String after split

Question

In Java if you want to split a String by a char or a String you can do that by the split method as follow:

String[] stringWords = myString.split(" ");

But let's say i want now to create a new String using the strings in stringWords using the char * between them. Is there any solutions to do it without for/while instructions?

Here is a clear example:

String myString = "This is how the string should be";

String iWant = "This*is*how*the*string*should*be";

Somebody asks me to be more clear why i don't want just to use replace() function. I don't want to use it simply because the content of the array of strings (array stringWords in my example) changes it's content.

Here is an example:

String myString = "This is a string i wrote"
String[] stringWords = myString.split(" ");

myAlgorithmFucntion(stringWords);

Here is an example of how tha final string changes:

String iWant = "This*is*something*i*wrote*and*i*don't*want*to*do*it*anymore";

No. I don't want to use the replace function. Because with my code i'm not just trying to replace strings. — Marco Micheli, Mar 04 '14 at 09:45
That's the easiest and best way. Why don't you want to use it? — chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic-, Mar 04 '14 at 09:45
Because i'm facing this problem: i get a String, i split it, i delete some therms, add others, than i want to get a String back from it. — Marco Micheli, Mar 04 '14 at 09:46
See also http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4930939/preferred-idiom-for-joining-a-collection-of-strings-in-java — Rory Hunter, Mar 04 '14 at 09:46
@MarcoMicheli Then your problem description is just lacking .... — Ingo, Mar 04 '14 at 09:48
I believe his point is that he can only depend on working with `stringWords` not `myString` which was just an illustrative example. — xlm, Mar 04 '14 at 09:59

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:00

5

If you don't want to use replace or similar, you can use the Apache Commons StringUtils:

String iWant = StringUtils.join(stringWords, "*");

Or if you don't want to use Apache Commons, then as per comment by Rory Hunter you can implement your own as shown here.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:00

Community

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answered Mar 04 '14 at 09:47

xlm

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I bet , StringUtils will internally also use for/while instructions which OP doesn't want. Basically OP is trying to ask something like Running a java program without JVM – Stunner Mar 04 '14 at 10:08
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@Stunner I agree that `StringUtils` most likely does use iteration. I think his intention was to find out if there is an existing/convenient method in either the standard or popular Java libraries so he doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. – xlm Mar 04 '14 at 10:10

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 04 '14 at 09:46

yes there is solution to, split String with special characters like '*','.' etc. you have to use special backshlas.

String myString = "This is how the string should be";
iWant = myString.replaceAll(" ","*"); //or iWant = StringUtils.join(Collections.asList(myString.split(" ")),"*");


iWant = "This*is*how*the*string*should*be";
String [] tab = iWant.split("\\*");

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 04 '14 at 09:49

-2

Try something like this as you don't want to use replace() function

char[] ans=myString.toCharArray();
for(int i =0; i < ans.length; i++)
{
if(ans[i]==' ')ans[i]='*';
}
String answer=new String(ans);

answered Mar 04 '14 at 09:49

Stunner

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Whoever downvoted the above answer, can you explain why? – Stunner Mar 04 '14 at 09:50
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Not that I am downvoter but this code is the same as `replace` method which OP claims he doesn't want to use. – Pshemo Mar 04 '14 at 09:51
He said he doesn't want to use inbuilt String class replace() method but not my own logic.. – Stunner Mar 04 '14 at 09:52
What the hell we can do If the OP can't phrase the question properly. According to the question/reply he made , my answer is correct. But I find some damn morons in this community who don't even know when to down vote.. – Stunner Mar 04 '14 at 09:56
T.J Crowder why commenting others .if you can provide solution else logout – Maheshbabu Jammula Mar 04 '14 at 09:56
@MaheshbabuJammula: The only reasonable answer has already been provided. – T.J. Crowder Mar 04 '14 at 09:58

score -2 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 04 '14 at 09:50

-2

Try looping the String array:

  String[] stringWords = myString.split(" ");
    String myString = "";
    for (String s : stringWords){
     myString = myString + "s" + "*";
    }

Just add the logic to deleting the last * of the String.

Using StringBuilder option:

String[] stringWords = myString.split(" ");
StringBuilder myStringBuilder = new StringBuilder("");
for (String s : stringWords){
   myStringBuilder.append(s).append("*");
}

answered Mar 04 '14 at 09:50

Averroes

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really ? Immutable string concatenation on each iteration ? – Wajahat Mar 04 '14 at 09:50
@Wajahat Yes, really. Depends on the task itself. You can use a StringBuilder if you feel like it. – Averroes Mar 04 '14 at 09:51
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Plus the question said : " Is there any solutions to do it without for/while instructions?" – Wajahat Mar 04 '14 at 09:52
@Wajahat The question have been edited while I was writting my answer. – Averroes Mar 04 '14 at 09:55
@Averroes: That's been in the question since [the first version](http://stackoverflow.com/revisions/22168209/1). – T.J. Crowder Mar 04 '14 at 09:58
@T.J.Crowder Hmmm My fault. Sorry then :) I will not delete the question for if its helpful to someone in the future. – Averroes Mar 04 '14 at 09:59
1

@Averroes: Fair point, *others* won't have such ridiculous limitations on their requirements. :-) – T.J. Crowder Mar 04 '14 at 10:18

Java get the same String after split

4 Answers4