🌟 Java : String Comparison in Java — equals vs == Explained!

🔍 "Same Value or Same Object? Let's Break It Down!"
🧩 What’s the Goal of This Program?
This Java program demonstrates how to compare strings using:

equals() — to check if two strings have the same content

== — to check if two string references point to the same memory

Essential for Java developers and automation testers working with data validation, UI checks, or string processing!

🧠 Step-by-Step Breakdown: What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
1️⃣ Define Two Identical String Literals
Two string variables are assigned the same literal value.

Java optimizes memory by storing these in the string pool, so both references point to the same object.

2️⃣ Create a New String Object
A third string is created using new, which places it in the heap memory, not the pool.

Even though the content is the same, the reference is different.

3️⃣ Use equals() for Content Comparison
The equals() method checks if the actual text content is identical.

Both comparisons return true because the content is "Java" in all strings.

4️⃣ Use == for Reference Comparison
The == operator checks if two strings are pointing to the same memory location.

First comparison is true because literals from the pool share memory.

Second comparison is false because one string is a new object in the heap.

5️⃣ Display the Results
The program prints out the outcomes of both comparison styles, clearly showing the difference between content match and reference match.

🎓 Top 5 Java String Comparison Interview Questions
1. Q: What is the difference between == and equals() in Java?
👉 == compares memory addresses (references), while equals() compares the actual content of the strings.

2. Q: What does equalsIgnoreCase() do?
👉 It compares two strings while ignoring case, treating "Java" and "java" as equal.

3. Q: How can you avoid NullPointerException when comparing strings?
👉 Always call .equals() on a known constant string like "abc".equals(variable) instead of the other way around.

4. Q: What does compareTo() do in string comparison?
👉 It performs lexicographical comparison and returns 0 if equal, a negative number if the first is smaller, or a positive number if the first is larger.

5. Q: What’s the difference between equals() and contentEquals()?
👉 equals() is for comparing strings only, while contentEquals() can compare String with a StringBuffer or any CharSequence.

🧾 Wrapping Up: Know When to Use What
Understanding how strings are stored and compared in Java helps you write bug-free, high-performance code. Whether you're comparing labels in automation, validating responses, or building strings dynamically — choose equals() or == wisely.

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