StringBuffer

[Rajneesh]

public class StrBufTest {
public void method1(StringBuffer s1, StringBuffer s2){
s1.append("There");
s2 = s1;
}
public static void main(String[] args){
StringBuffer sb1 = new StringBuffer("Hello");
StringBuffer sb2 = new StringBuffer("Hello");
StrBufTest sbt = new StrBufTest();
sbt.method1(sb1, sb2);
System.out.println("sb1 is " + sb1 + "\nsb2 is " + sb2);
}
}
The above code outputs HelloThere and Hello
I did'nt get why?

[Chandu]

I think the first part is clear (s1 = "HelloThere") .Regarding the second part when u assigned s2=s1 . The local reference in the method1 argument now points to s1 ("HelloThere") however the reference s2 in the main method still points to "Hello". Using reference if you alter the stringbuffer contents then that will be reflected in the main method too , but simply changing the reference in method1 wont harm the main method reference.

[Tony Alicea]

The
s2 = s1;
inside the method doesn't do absolutely anything in this example since the methods ends right after.
s1 and s2 are LOCAL variables inside the method that contain COPIES of the references sb1 and sb2. The method can do whatever it wants with those and sb1 and sb2 will never see the difference.
But because s1 and s2 are reference variables, you can use them to change the state of the objects they represent.

[Raj Mehra]

Can anyone pls exlain it to me that why
s1.append("There");makes sb1=hello there when s1 is also a local reference variable.
Thnx

[This message has been edited by Raj Mehra (edited January 16, 2001).]

[Ajay Singhal]

will anyone explain why the value of s1 is reflected in main if value of se is not reflected?
total confusing for me?
------------------

[Son Le]

Rajneesh,
First thing, there's only pass by value in java.
I'll try to visualize the process
*sb1, sb2 are constructed:
sb1 --> "Hello"
sb2 --> "Hello"
*In method1(), since s1, s2 are copies of sb1, sb2, then
sb1 --> "Hello" <-- s1<br /> sb2 --> "Hello" <-- s2<br /> *s1.append("There")<br /> sb1 --> "HelloThere" <-- s1<br /> sb2 --> "Hello" <-- s2<br /> * s2 = s1;<br />

   sb1 --> "HelloThere" <-- s1
               ^
               | 
               s2  (s2 now a reference to "HelloThere"

<br /> <br /> sb2 --> "Hello"
In main, sb1 --> "HelloThere"
sb2 --> "Hello"
Hope this'll help



[This message has been edited by Son Le (edited January 16, 2001).]