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☕ Java Characters and Strings
Unlock the Power of Text and Symbols in Java
In Java, characters and strings are fundamental to managing text and symbolic data. Whether you’re handling a single letter or an entire paragraph, Java gives you powerful tools to work with characters and strings effectively.
🔤 Java char
– The Character Data Type
The char
data type in Java is used to store a single 16-bit Unicode character. Unlike other languages that may use ASCII by default, Java supports Unicode — which means it can store characters from virtually any language in the world.
char letter = 'G';
System.out.println(letter); // Output: G
🎯 Key Features:
- Occupies 2 bytes of memory.
- Enclosed in single quotes (
'A'
,'3'
,'$'
). - Can also be assigned using Unicode values or ASCII integers.
char unicodeChar = '\u0041'; // Unicode for 'A'
char asciiChar = 66; // ASCII for 'B'
System.out.println(unicodeChar); // Output: A
System.out.println(asciiChar); // Output: B
💡 GoNimbus Pro Tip: Want to explore special symbols or foreign characters? Use \u
followed by four-digit Unicode.
📚 Java String
– The Most Loved Type
The String
class in Java is used to store a sequence of characters (text). It’s one of the most powerful and frequently used non-primitive data types.
String message = "Welcome to GoNimbus!";
System.out.println(message);
🌟 Why Strings Are Special:
- Strings are objects, not primitive types.
- They come with built-in methods like
.length()
,.toUpperCase()
,.substring()
and many more.
String fullName = "GoNimbus Academy";
System.out.println(fullName.length()); // Output: 17
System.out.println(fullName.toUpperCase()); // Output: GONIMBUS ACADEMY
System.out.println(fullName.substring(0, 8)); // Output: GoNimbus
🧠 Did You Know?
Strings are immutable. That means once a String is created, it cannot be changed. Every string operation returns a new string object!
🔍 Character vs. String – What’s the Difference?
Feature | char | String |
---|---|---|
Size | 2 bytes | Varies with content |
Quotes | Single 'A' | Double "Hello" |
Mutability | Mutable | Immutable |
Type | Primitive | Non-primitive (Object) |
🚀 Use Cases in Real World
char
: Used in grading systems ('A'
,'B'
, etc.), gender ('M'
,'F'
), symbols.String
: Used in messaging, forms, file names, user input, and almost every Java app!
✅ Quick Recap
- Use
char
when you need to store just one symbol or letter. - Use
String
when you’re working with text or words. - Strings are powerful – explore their methods to supercharge your Java code!
🧩 Coming Up Next on GoNimbus Java Series:
Learn how to manipulate and compare Strings like a pro. Dive into StringBuilder, StringBuffer, and performance optimization tricks!