Java - String and array references

Question

Just started to learn Java, and saw that both string and array are reference types. I don't understand the following issue:

    String a = "a1";
    String b = "a2";
    a=b;
    a = "rrr";

    System.out.println(a);
    System.out.println(b);

    int[] arr1 = {1,2,3};
    int[] arr2 = arr1;
    arr2[0]= 19;
    System.out.println(arr1[0]);

When I print it, I get : "rrr" "a2" 10

when using arrays - I understand that they are both pointing on the same object, so if I change the cell - I see the difference both at arr1 and arr2.

regarding "string" - from my understanding when I do : a=b it shouldn't be : "let a point on the same object as b is pointing" - meaning if I change a that they both need also to be changed?

Thanks!!

This isn't the most useful thing, but I think you would appreciate knowing that you can print an array with `System.out.println(Arrays.toString(arr1));`. — Pokechu22, Sep 19 '14 at 18:38
Start making distinctions between _variables_, _reference values_, and _instances_ (objects). — Sotirios Delimanolis, Sep 19 '14 at 18:45
Read [this](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/40480/is-java-pass-by-reference-or-pass-by-value). — Sotirios Delimanolis, Sep 19 '14 at 18:47

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 19 '14 at 18:39

In the array case, you're actually modifying the array, and thus if one reference is changed, so is the other.

In the string case, you are not modifying the object, you are simply assigning a different object to that reference. As you noted: a=b means "let a point to the same object as b is pointing". Following the same line of thought, a="rrr" means "let a point to the literal "rrr"", which has nothing to do with with b.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 19 '14 at 18:44

So, reassignment is a different thing from modification.

If you have

String a = "foo";
String b = a;

then you have assigned b to refer to the same object as a. If you then do

b = "bananas";

then you haven't modified the string, you have reassigned b so it is no longer referring to the same object as a.

On the other hand

int[] c = { 1, 2, 3 };
int[] d = c;

Here again we have d assigned to refer to the same object (an array) as c. If you then do something like this:

d[0] = 10;

then you are modifying the contents of the array that both c and d refer to.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 19 '14 at 19:26

You have 3 string objects and 1 array object.
"a1", "a2", "rrr"
{1,2,3}

String a = "a1"; // a points to a new object "a1"
String b = "a2"; // b points to a new object "a2"
a=b; // a points to b's object "a2"
a = "rrr"; // a points to new object "rrr"

System.out.println(a); // prints "rrr" to console
System.out.println(b); // Prints "a2" to console

int[] arr1 = {1,2,3}; // arr1 points to new array {1,2,3}
int[] arr2 = arr1; // arr2 points to array in arr1 {1,2,3}
arr2[0]= 19; // modifies the array arr2 points to {19, 2, 3}
System.out.println(arr1[0]); // Prints "19" to console

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 19 '14 at 23:53

First of all String is a immutable. Immutalbe means that you cannot change the object itself, but you can change the reference. Like in your case -

    String a = "a1"; // a is a reference variable and point to new object with value "a1"

    String b = "a2"; // b is a reference and point to new object with value "a2"

    a=b; // now a is referencing same object as b is referencing, a and b value is "a2"

    a = "rrr"; // at this time "rrr" is creating a new String object with value "rrr" and now a is pointing to this object.

So b is still point to "a2" and now a is pointing to new object "rrr". That's why both print different value.

    System.out.println(a);
    System.out.println(b);

Java - String and array references

4 Answers4