What is Java String Pool?

As the name suggests, String Pool in Java is a pool of Strings stored in Java Heap Memory. We know that String is a special class in Java and we can create String objects using a new operator as well as providing values in double-quotes.

String Pool in Java

Here is a diagram that clearly explains how String Pool is maintained in Java heap space and what happens when we use different ways to create Strings. String Pool is possible only because String is immutable in Java and its implementation of String interning concept. String pool is also an example of Flyweight design pattern. String pool helps in saving a lot of space for Java Runtime although it takes more time to create the String. When we use double quotes to create a String, it first looks for a String with the same value in the String pool, if found it just returns the reference else it creates a new String in the pool and then returns the reference. However, using the new operator, we force the String class to create a new String object in heap space. We can use the intern() method to put it into the pool or refer to another String object from the string pool having the same value.

Java Program for String Pool

package com.journaldev.util;

public class StringPool {

    /**
     * Java String Pool example
     * @param args
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String s1 = "Cat";
        String s2 = "Cat";
        String s3 = new String("Cat");
        
        System.out.println("s1 == s2 :"+(s1==s2));
        System.out.println("s1 == s3 :"+(s1==s3));
    }

}

Output of the above program is:

s1 == s2 :true
s1 == s3 :false

Recommended Read: Java String Class

How many Strings are getting Created in the String Pool?

Sometimes in a Java interview, you will be asked a question around String pool. For example, how many strings are getting created in the below statement;

String str = new String("Cat");

In the above statement, either 1 or 2 strings will be created. If there is already a string literal “Cat” in the pool, then only one string “str” will be created in the pool. If there is no string literal “Cat” in the pool, then it will be first created in the pool and then in the heap space, so a total of 2 string objects will be created. Read: Java String Interview Questions