replace()

[Anonymous]

hi,
we all are know that String is immutable and StringBuffer is not(mutable).But why String has replace() method?It causes String can be modified by some means.However replace is there for StringBuffer-it is OK!What is actual meaning of immutable?
So i need some explanation about it.
Can anyone explain?please.

Thanks in advance.
---shiva

[Anonymous]

If you look at the syntax
String replace(char oldChar, char newChar)
String s = "abc";
s.replace('c','d');
The above code creates a new String "abd" maintaining same value in s.

[Anonymous]

hi dilip,
Can u please tell me which is essential in String context
Number of characters inside string not to changed or
String type means (as u mentioned,) from "abc" to "abd"
--shiva

[Anonymous]

I'm not getting your doubt..
Let me explain something.
String s = "java";
s.toLowerCase --- No new object created
s.toUpperCase --- new object created
s.trim --- No new object created
s.replace('j','v') --- new object created
String x = "JAVA";
x.toLowerCase --- creates new object
x.toUpperCase --- No new object created
x.trim --- No new object created

[Anonymous]

hi dilip

my doubt is why String has replace()? because string is immutable object i.e can not be modified. but replace () completely modifies string object.is it OK!
--SHIVA

[srikrish]

Shi,
There is no problem with String having a replace() method. Infact, String can have any kind of method which modify the string (if so required). The only point to note in all these methods is that they produce new objects as their output (there are exceptions - refer the API for that). For StringBuffer, the update methods do not produce a new object. That is the only difference.

[Anonymous]

hi
dilip and skrish very very thanks for your help
now my doubt is cleared.
--shiva