Why String is Immutable in Java

Last Updated on March 23, 2023 by Prepbytes

In Java, immutable objects are those objects whose state cannot be changed once they are created. The string is one such immutable object. When we manipulate a string object, a new object is created every time, and the original object remains unchanged. In Java, String is one of the most commonly used classes. It is used to represent a sequence of characters, and its immutability is one of its key features. String objects cannot be modified once they are created. In this article, we will discuss why String is immutable in Java, and what benefits this provides.

Why String is Immutable in Java?

There are several reasons why String is immutable in Java:

• Security: Strings are often used to store sensitive data like passwords or credit card numbers. If a string is mutable, it can be modified, potentially exposing this sensitive data. By making String immutable, we can ensure that it cannot be modified once created, providing an extra layer of security.
• Thread-Safety: In a multi-threaded environment, mutable objects can cause race conditions, leading to unpredictable behavior. Because String is immutable, it can be safely shared between threads without any synchronization.
• Performance: The immutability of strings allows them to be cached and reused, avoiding the overhead of creating new objects every time. This can result in significant performance improvements, especially in memory-intensive applications.
• Hashcode: Strings are often used as keys in hash tables. If a string is mutable, its hashcode can change, leading to incorrect results when retrieving data from the hash table. By making String immutable, its hashcode is fixed when it is created, ensuring that it remains consistent.

Example of Immutable String in Java:

Let’s look at an example that demonstrates the immutability of Strings in Java:

String s1 = "collegedekho";
String s2 = s1;
s1 = s1 + "Prepbytes";
System.out.println(s1);
System.out.println(s2);

Output

collegedekhoPrepbytes

collegedekho

Explanation
In this example, we first create a String object s1 with the value "collegedekho". We then create another String object s2 and assign it the value of s1. Next, we concatenate the string " world" to s1 using the "+" operator. Finally, we print both s1 and s2.
As we can see, s1 has been modified to "collegedekhoPrepbytes", but s2 remains unchanged at "collegedekho". This demonstrates the immutability of String objects in Java. Instead of modifying the existing String object, a new String object is created when we concatenate the strings.

Conclusion
In conclusion, String is immutable in Java for a variety of reasons, including security, thread safety, performance, and hashcode consistency. The immutability of String objects provides several benefits and is one of the key features of the Java language. The immutability of strings in Java provides several benefits. It allows for efficient memory management, as strings can be shared among multiple objects without the need for defensive copying. It also simplifies programming, as it eliminates the need for synchronization and reduces the risk of errors due to concurrent modification. However, it is important to note that immutability does not mean that strings are always thread-safe. If multiple threads are accessing and modifying a string object simultaneously, race conditions and other concurrency issues can still occur.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the FAQs on why string is immutable in java:

1) What is string immutability in Java?
Ans: String immutability refers to the property of string objects in Java that once they are created, their values cannot be changed. Any operation that appears to modify a string actually creates a new string object with the modified value.

2) Why are strings immutable in Java?
Ans: Strings are made immutable in Java to make them thread-safe and to simplify programming. Immutable objects can be shared among multiple threads without the need for synchronization or defensive copying, which improves performance and simplifies memory management.

3) How does string immutability improve performance in Java?
Ans: String immutability in Java allows for efficient memory management, as string objects can be shared among multiple objects without the need for defensive copying. It also eliminates the need for synchronization, which can improve performance.

4) Are all objects in Java immutable?
Ans: No, not all objects in Java are immutable. Some objects, such as strings and primitive wrapper classes, are immutable, while others, such as arrays and collections, are mutable.

5) Can strings be modified in Java?
Ans: No, once a string object is created, its value cannot be changed in Java. Any operation that appears to modify a string actually creates a new string object with the modified value.

6) What are the advantages of immutable strings in Java?
Ans: Immutable strings in Java provide several advantages, including improved performance, simplified memory management, and simplified programming due to the elimination of synchronization and the risk of concurrent modification errors.

7) What are the disadvantages of immutable strings in Java?
Ans: The main disadvantage of immutable strings in Java is that they can result in the creation of many temporary objects when string operations are performed, which can impact performance if not managed properly.