Solve this multiple-choice question and choose the correct option.

In Java, what is the difference between creating a String with the new keyword and creating a String using a string literal?

Difficulty: Medium

A string literal may reuse an existing String object from the string pool, while new String() always creates a new String object on the heap even for the same text.
new String() creates a primitive value, while a string literal creates a full object.
There is no difference at all; both approaches always allocate a brand new String object with no pooling.
A string literal can only be used inside methods, while new String() can only be used for fields.
new String() stores the characters in native memory, while a string literal stores them in a database table.

Correct Answer: A string literal may reuse an existing String object from the string pool, while new String() always creates a new String object on the heap even for the same text.

Explanation:

Introduction / Context:

String handling is a very common topic in Java interviews. Understanding the difference between using string literals and constructing strings with the new keyword helps developers reason about memory usage, object identity, and performance. This question focuses on how the JVM manages string instances through the string pool.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Java treats String as an immutable reference type.
String literals such as \"Hello\" appear directly in code.
The expression new String(\"Hello\") explicitly constructs a new object.

Concept / Approach:

The JVM maintains a special area called the string pool that stores unique instances of string literals and interned strings. When code uses the same literal in multiple places, the compiler and JVM can reuse the same pooled object. In contrast, using new String(\"text\") explicitly requests a new String object, even if an identical value already exists in the pool. As a result, comparing string references with == can behave differently for literals and for objects created with new.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Consider two literals, String a = \"Java\" and String b = \"Java\"; both usually refer to the same pooled object. Step 2: Now consider String c = new String(\"Java\"); this constructs a separate object with the same content. Step 3: Evaluate a == b, which is typically true because both references point to the pooled instance. Step 4: Evaluate a == c, which is false because c refers to a different String object. Step 5: Understand that equals() compares content and returns true for all three, while the key difference lies in object identity and memory behavior.

Verification / Alternative check:

A small test program that prints the result of == comparisons between literals and new String() instances clearly shows the effect. Tools such as debuggers or heap analyzers also reveal separate objects when new String() is used repeatedly for the same value.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option B is wrong because both literals and new String() produce objects, not primitives. Option C is wrong because the string pool specifically exists to allow reuse of literal instances. Option D is wrong because both forms can be used for fields, local variables, and parameters. Option E is wrong because String data is stored in managed memory, not in a database table.

Common Pitfalls:

A common mistake is to use new String() without need, which creates unnecessary objects and can hurt performance. Another pitfall is comparing strings with == instead of equals(), which leads to subtle bugs when pooled and non pooled instances are mixed.

Final Answer:

The correct choice is A string literal may reuse an existing String object from the string pool, while new String() always creates a new String object on the heap even for the same text. because this captures the key memory and identity differences between literals and explicit construction.

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In Java, what is the difference between creating a String with the new keyword and creating a String using a string literal?

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