Here are a set of diagrams to illustrate Java String’s immutability.
1. Declare a string
String s = "abcd"; |
s stores the reference of the string object. The arrow below should be interpreted as “store reference of”.
2. Assign a string variable to another string variable
String s2 = s; |
s2 stores the same reference value, since it is the same string object.
3. Concat string
s = s.concat("ef"); |
s now stores the reference of newly created string object.
Summary
Once a string is created in memory(heap), it can not be changed. We should note that all methods of String do not change the string itself, but rather return a new String.
If we need a string that can be modified, we will need StringBuffer or StringBuilder. Otherwise, there would be a lot of time wasted for Garbage Collection, since each time a new String is created.