Java Software Engineer Interview Question:

Explain me what is the difference between String s = "Test" and String s = new String("Test")? Which is better and why?

Submitted by: Muhammad

In general, String s = "Test" is more efficient to use than String s = new String("Test").

In the case of String s = "Test", a String with the value “Test” will be created in the String pool. If another String with the same value is then created (e.g., String s2 = "Test"), it will reference this same object in the String pool.

However, if you use String s = new String("Test"), in addition to creating a String with the value “Test” in the String pool, that String object will then be passed to the constructor of the String Object (i.e., new String("Test")) and will create another String object (not in the String pool) with that value. Each such call will therefore create an additional String object (e.g., String s2 = new String("Test") would create an addition String object, rather than just reusing the same String object from the String pool).
Submitted by: Muhammad