Java Strings: New Keyword vs. String Pool: When Should I Use Which?

Java's String Pool and Creation of String Objects

When creating a String object in Java, developers have the option to use the new keyword or rely on the String pool. The String pool is a mechanism that optimizes the use of memory by reusing previously created String objects that have the same value.

With regards to the provided code:

String first = "abc"; //literal String
String second = new String("abc"); //created with new keyword

Using the new keyword creates a new String object in Java, as you have mentioned. However, this new object is not stored in the String pool. Instead, it is allocated on the regular heap. The reason for this is that the new keyword forces the creation of a new String object, even if an identical object already exists in the pool.

In this specific case, the String pool contains the literal String "abc," which is used when assigning to first. The String created with new String("abc") is different and resides on the heap. Thus, there will be two String objects: one in the pool and one on the heap.

It's important to note that using the new keyword to create Strings can lead to unnecessary memory consumption and performance degradation. Java's String pool ensures efficient memory management by reusing existing String objects. Therefore, it's generally recommended to avoid using the new keyword for String creation and instead rely on the String pool mechanism.

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