String References as Parameters

Some methods require a parameter that is a reference to a String object. For example,

String stringA = "Random Jottings";
String stringB = "Lyrical Ballads";

if ( stringA.equals( stringB ) ) 
  System.out.println("They are equal.");
else
  System.out.println("They are different.");

The String referred to by stringA has an equals() method. That method is called with a parameter, a reference to stringB. The method checks if both strings contain identical characters, and if so, evaluates to true.

Careful:   The previous paragraph is correctly stated, but awkward. People often say "String" when they really mean "reference to a String". This is fine, but remember that a variable like stringA does not contain an object, but only a reference to an object. This may seem picky, but there is nothing quite as picky as a computer. Students who are not careful about this often run into problems.