StringBuffer method parameter - doesn't change value

Question

I know that String is immutable and it's value can't be changed, but why does the value of the below StringBuffer doesn't change when sent like a method parameter. From my understanding it should have changed with the new value "bb". Thank you for your help.

class Ideone {

    public static void main (String[] args) {

        String s = "aa";
        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer("aa");
        modify(s, "bb");
        modify2(sb, "bb");
        System.out.println(s);
        System.out.println(sb);
    }

    public static void modify(String s, String ss) {
        s = ss;
    }

    public static void modify2(StringBuffer sb, String ss) {
        sb = new StringBuffer(ss);
    }
}

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 14 '16 at 19:24

2

The universal rule in Java is that you cannot change the reference of an object passed into a method, but you can change its contents.

public static void modify2(StringBuffer sb, String ss){

This method takes a copy of a reference to a StringBuffer. Changing that reference to point to an object has no effect whatsoever on the original object. But if you implemented it as

sb.clear();
sb.append(ss);

then it would work.

Again, the rule is that reassigning an object passed into a method with = does nothing to the original object, but you can change the contents of that object just fine.

answered Apr 14 '16 at 19:24

Louis Wasserman

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it worked with sb.setLength(0); sb.append(ss); thank you – bluesony Apr 14 '16 at 19:36
Yes, that would be equivalent. – Louis Wasserman Apr 14 '16 at 19:36

StringBuffer method parameter - doesn't change value

1 Answers1