java - How to convert StringBuilder[] to String[] - Stack Overflow
Why would you use a StringBuilder method over a String in Java? - Stack Overflow
scala - What's the correct way to convert from StringBuilder to String? - Stack Overflow
What happens when i use toString() method on a StringBuilder?
You're on the right track by understanding the immutability of the String class.
Based on [1] and [2], here are some cases where each type of implementation is recommended:
1. Simple String Concatenation
String answer = firstPart + "." + secondPart;
This is syntactic sugar for
String answer = new StringBuilder(firstPart).append("."). append(secondPart).toString();
This is actually quite performant and is the recommended approach for simple string concatenation [1].
2. Stepwise Construction
String answer = firstPart;
answer += ".";
answer += secondPart;
Under the hood, this translates to
String answer = new StringBuilder(firstPart).toString();
answer = new StringBuilder(answer).append(".").toString();
answer = new StringBuilder(answer).append(secondPart).toString();
This creates a temporary StringBuilder and intermediate String objects which are inefficient [1]. Especially if the intermediate results are not used.
Use StringBuilder in this case.
3. For Loop Construction and Scaling For Larger Collections
String result = "";
for(int i = 0; i < numItems(); i++)
result += lineItem(i);
return result;
The above code is O(n^2), where n is number of strings. This is due to the immutability of the String class and due to the the fact that when concatenating two strings, the contents of both are copied [2].
So it may be fine for a few fixed length items, but it will not scale.
In such cases, use StringBuilder.
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(numItems() * LINE_SIZE);
for(int i = 0; i < numItems(); i++)
sb.append(lineItem(i));
return b.toString();
This code is O(n) time, where n is number of items or strings. So as the number of strings gets larger, you will see the difference in performance [2].
This code pre-allocates an array in the initialization of StringBuilder, but even if a default size array is used, it will be significantly faster than the previous code for a large number of items [2].
Summary
Use string concatenation if you are concatenating only a few strings or if performance is not of importance (i.e. a demonstration/toy-application). Otherwise, use StringBuilder or consider processing the string as a character array [2].
References:
[1] Java Performance: The Definitive Guide by Scott Oaks: Link
[2] Effective Java 3rd Edition by Joshua Bloch: Link
You cannot change the original string because it is immutable therefore having String s = ""; every operation like
s += "something";
will create and reassign new object (probably it will also add a little bit of work for GC in near future). On he other hand modifying StringBuilder is (usually) not creating new object (indeed it is happening just once at the very end when calling toString() method on builder instance)
Because of this it is common to use StringBuilder when you are modifying string many many times (for example in some long loops).
Still it is common error to overuse StringBuilder - it may be example of premature optimization
Read also:
- Is it better to reuse a StringBuilder in a loop?
The toString implementation currently just redirects to the result method anyway, so those two methods will behave in the same way. However, they express slightly different intent:
toStringrequests a textual representation ofStringBuilders current state that is "concise but informative (and) that is easy for a person to read". So, theoretically, the (vague) specification of this method does not forbid abbreviating the result, or enhancing conciseness and readability in any other way.resultrequests the actual constructed string. No different readings seem possible here.
Therefore, if you want to obtain the resulting string, use result to express your intent as clearly as possible.
In this way, the reader of your code won't have to wonder whether StringBuilder.toString might shorten something for the sake of "conciseness" when the string gets over 9000 kB long, or something like that.
The mkString is for something else entirely, it's mostly used for interspersing separators, as in "hello".mkString(",") == "h,e,l,l,o".
Some further links:
- The paragraph with "hashcode in hexadecimal" describes the default. It is just documentation inherited from
AnyRef, because the creator ofStringBuilderdidn't bother to provide more detailed documentation. - If you look into code, you'll see that
toStringis actually just delegating toresult. - The documentation of
StringBuilderalso mentionsresult()in the introductory overview paragraph.
Just use result().
TL;DR; use result as stated in the docs.
toString MUST never be called in anything at all for another purpose other than a quick debug.
mkString is inherited from collections hierarchy and it will basically create another StringBuilder so is very inefficient.
So let's say i have a code like this:-
StringBuilder str = new StringBuilder("hello");
System.out.println(str.toString()); So is it like there are two arrays, StringBuilder and String and we loop StringBuilder and copy it's contents character by character into the String? What would be the time complexity of this process?