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package java.lang;

import jdk.internal.HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate;

A mutable sequence of characters. This class provides an API compatible with StringBuffer, but with no guarantee of synchronization. This class is designed for use as a drop-in replacement for StringBuffer in places where the string buffer was being used by a single thread (as is generally the case). Where possible, it is recommended that this class be used in preference to StringBuffer as it will be faster under most implementations.

The principal operations on a StringBuilder are the append and insert methods, which are overloaded so as to accept data of any type. Each effectively converts a given datum to a string and then appends or inserts the characters of that string to the string builder. The append method always adds these characters at the end of the builder; the insert method adds the characters at a specified point.

For example, if z refers to a string builder object whose current contents are "start", then the method call z.append("le") would cause the string builder to contain "startle", whereas z.insert(4, "le") would alter the string builder to contain "starlet".

In general, if sb refers to an instance of a StringBuilder, then sb.append(x) has the same effect as sb.insert(sb.length(), x).

Every string builder has a capacity. As long as the length of the character sequence contained in the string builder does not exceed the capacity, it is not necessary to allocate a new internal buffer. If the internal buffer overflows, it is automatically made larger.

Instances of StringBuilder are not safe for use by multiple threads. If such synchronization is required then it is recommended that StringBuffer be used.

Unless otherwise noted, passing a null argument to a constructor or method in this class will cause a NullPointerException to be thrown.

Author: Michael McCloskey
See Also:
API Note: StringBuilder implements Comparable but does not override equals. Thus, the natural ordering of StringBuilder is inconsistent with equals. Care should be exercised if StringBuilder objects are used as keys in a SortedMap or elements in a SortedSet. See Comparable, SortedMap, or SortedSet for more information.
Since: 1.5
/** * A mutable sequence of characters. This class provides an API compatible * with {@code StringBuffer}, but with no guarantee of synchronization. * This class is designed for use as a drop-in replacement for * {@code StringBuffer} in places where the string buffer was being * used by a single thread (as is generally the case). Where possible, * it is recommended that this class be used in preference to * {@code StringBuffer} as it will be faster under most implementations. * * <p>The principal operations on a {@code StringBuilder} are the * {@code append} and {@code insert} methods, which are * overloaded so as to accept data of any type. Each effectively * converts a given datum to a string and then appends or inserts the * characters of that string to the string builder. The * {@code append} method always adds these characters at the end * of the builder; the {@code insert} method adds the characters at * a specified point. * <p> * For example, if {@code z} refers to a string builder object * whose current contents are "{@code start}", then * the method call {@code z.append("le")} would cause the string * builder to contain "{@code startle}", whereas * {@code z.insert(4, "le")} would alter the string builder to * contain "{@code starlet}". * <p> * In general, if sb refers to an instance of a {@code StringBuilder}, * then {@code sb.append(x)} has the same effect as * {@code sb.insert(sb.length(), x)}. * <p> * Every string builder has a capacity. As long as the length of the * character sequence contained in the string builder does not exceed * the capacity, it is not necessary to allocate a new internal * buffer. If the internal buffer overflows, it is automatically made larger. * * <p>Instances of {@code StringBuilder} are not safe for * use by multiple threads. If such synchronization is required then it is * recommended that {@link java.lang.StringBuffer} be used. * * <p>Unless otherwise noted, passing a {@code null} argument to a constructor * or method in this class will cause a {@link NullPointerException} to be * thrown. * * @apiNote * {@code StringBuilder} implements {@code Comparable} but does not override * {@link Object#equals equals}. Thus, the natural ordering of {@code StringBuilder} * is inconsistent with equals. Care should be exercised if {@code StringBuilder} * objects are used as keys in a {@code SortedMap} or elements in a {@code SortedSet}. * See {@link Comparable}, {@link java.util.SortedMap SortedMap}, or * {@link java.util.SortedSet SortedSet} for more information. * * @author Michael McCloskey * @see java.lang.StringBuffer * @see java.lang.String * @since 1.5 */
public final class StringBuilder extends AbstractStringBuilder implements java.io.Serializable, Comparable<StringBuilder>, CharSequence {
use serialVersionUID for interoperability
/** use serialVersionUID for interoperability */
static final long serialVersionUID = 4383685877147921099L;
Constructs a string builder with no characters in it and an initial capacity of 16 characters.
/** * Constructs a string builder with no characters in it and an * initial capacity of 16 characters. */
@HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public StringBuilder() { super(16); }
Constructs a string builder with no characters in it and an initial capacity specified by the capacity argument.
Params:
  • capacity – the initial capacity.
Throws:
/** * Constructs a string builder with no characters in it and an * initial capacity specified by the {@code capacity} argument. * * @param capacity the initial capacity. * @throws NegativeArraySizeException if the {@code capacity} * argument is less than {@code 0}. */
@HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public StringBuilder(int capacity) { super(capacity); }
Constructs a string builder initialized to the contents of the specified string. The initial capacity of the string builder is 16 plus the length of the string argument.
Params:
  • str – the initial contents of the buffer.
/** * Constructs a string builder initialized to the contents of the * specified string. The initial capacity of the string builder is * {@code 16} plus the length of the string argument. * * @param str the initial contents of the buffer. */
@HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public StringBuilder(String str) { super(str.length() + 16); append(str); }
Constructs a string builder that contains the same characters as the specified CharSequence. The initial capacity of the string builder is 16 plus the length of the CharSequence argument.
Params:
  • seq – the sequence to copy.
/** * Constructs a string builder that contains the same characters * as the specified {@code CharSequence}. The initial capacity of * the string builder is {@code 16} plus the length of the * {@code CharSequence} argument. * * @param seq the sequence to copy. */
public StringBuilder(CharSequence seq) { this(seq.length() + 16); append(seq); }
Compares two StringBuilder instances lexicographically. This method follows the same rules for lexicographical comparison as defined in the CharSequence.compare(this, another) method.

For finer-grained, locale-sensitive String comparison, refer to Collator.

Params:
  • another – the StringBuilder to be compared with
Returns: the value 0 if this StringBuilder contains the same character sequence as that of the argument StringBuilder; a negative integer if this StringBuilder is lexicographically less than the StringBuilder argument; or a positive integer if this StringBuilder is lexicographically greater than the StringBuilder argument.
Since:11
/** * Compares two {@code StringBuilder} instances lexicographically. This method * follows the same rules for lexicographical comparison as defined in the * {@linkplain java.lang.CharSequence#compare(java.lang.CharSequence, * java.lang.CharSequence) CharSequence.compare(this, another)} method. * * <p> * For finer-grained, locale-sensitive String comparison, refer to * {@link java.text.Collator}. * * @param another the {@code StringBuilder} to be compared with * * @return the value {@code 0} if this {@code StringBuilder} contains the same * character sequence as that of the argument {@code StringBuilder}; a negative integer * if this {@code StringBuilder} is lexicographically less than the * {@code StringBuilder} argument; or a positive integer if this {@code StringBuilder} * is lexicographically greater than the {@code StringBuilder} argument. * * @since 11 */
@Override public int compareTo(StringBuilder another) { return super.compareTo(another); } @Override public StringBuilder append(Object obj) { return append(String.valueOf(obj)); } @Override @HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public StringBuilder append(String str) { super.append(str); return this; }
Appends the specified StringBuffer to this sequence.

The characters of the StringBuffer argument are appended, in order, to this sequence, increasing the length of this sequence by the length of the argument. If sb is null, then the four characters "null" are appended to this sequence.

Let n be the length of this character sequence just prior to execution of the append method. Then the character at index k in the new character sequence is equal to the character at index k in the old character sequence, if k is less than n; otherwise, it is equal to the character at index k-n in the argument sb.

Params:
  • sb – the StringBuffer to append.
Returns: a reference to this object.
/** * Appends the specified {@code StringBuffer} to this sequence. * <p> * The characters of the {@code StringBuffer} argument are appended, * in order, to this sequence, increasing the * length of this sequence by the length of the argument. * If {@code sb} is {@code null}, then the four characters * {@code "null"} are appended to this sequence. * <p> * Let <i>n</i> be the length of this character sequence just prior to * execution of the {@code append} method. Then the character at index * <i>k</i> in the new character sequence is equal to the character at * index <i>k</i> in the old character sequence, if <i>k</i> is less than * <i>n</i>; otherwise, it is equal to the character at index <i>k-n</i> * in the argument {@code sb}. * * @param sb the {@code StringBuffer} to append. * @return a reference to this object. */
public StringBuilder append(StringBuffer sb) { super.append(sb); return this; } @Override public StringBuilder append(CharSequence s) { super.append(s); return this; }
Throws:
  • IndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder append(CharSequence s, int start, int end) { super.append(s, start, end); return this; } @Override public StringBuilder append(char[] str) { super.append(str); return this; }
Throws:
  • IndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder append(char[] str, int offset, int len) { super.append(str, offset, len); return this; } @Override public StringBuilder append(boolean b) { super.append(b); return this; } @Override @HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public StringBuilder append(char c) { super.append(c); return this; } @Override @HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public StringBuilder append(int i) { super.append(i); return this; } @Override public StringBuilder append(long lng) { super.append(lng); return this; } @Override public StringBuilder append(float f) { super.append(f); return this; } @Override public StringBuilder append(double d) { super.append(d); return this; }
Since:1.5
/** * @since 1.5 */
@Override public StringBuilder appendCodePoint(int codePoint) { super.appendCodePoint(codePoint); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder delete(int start, int end) { super.delete(start, end); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder deleteCharAt(int index) { super.deleteCharAt(index); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder replace(int start, int end, String str) { super.replace(start, end, str); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int index, char[] str, int offset, int len) { super.insert(index, str, offset, len); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, Object obj) { super.insert(offset, obj); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, String str) { super.insert(offset, str); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, char[] str) { super.insert(offset, str); return this; }
Throws:
  • IndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int dstOffset, CharSequence s) { super.insert(dstOffset, s); return this; }
Throws:
  • IndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int dstOffset, CharSequence s, int start, int end) { super.insert(dstOffset, s, start, end); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, boolean b) { super.insert(offset, b); return this; }
Throws:
  • IndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, char c) { super.insert(offset, c); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, int i) { super.insert(offset, i); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, long l) { super.insert(offset, l); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, float f) { super.insert(offset, f); return this; }
Throws:
  • StringIndexOutOfBoundsException – {@inheritDoc}
/** * @throws StringIndexOutOfBoundsException {@inheritDoc} */
@Override public StringBuilder insert(int offset, double d) { super.insert(offset, d); return this; } @Override public int indexOf(String str) { return super.indexOf(str); } @Override public int indexOf(String str, int fromIndex) { return super.indexOf(str, fromIndex); } @Override public int lastIndexOf(String str) { return super.lastIndexOf(str); } @Override public int lastIndexOf(String str, int fromIndex) { return super.lastIndexOf(str, fromIndex); } @Override public StringBuilder reverse() { super.reverse(); return this; } @Override @HotSpotIntrinsicCandidate public String toString() { // Create a copy, don't share the array return isLatin1() ? StringLatin1.newString(value, 0, count) : StringUTF16.newString(value, 0, count); }
Save the state of the StringBuilder instance to a stream (that is, serialize it).
@serialDatathe number of characters currently stored in the string builder (int), followed by the characters in the string builder (char[]). The length of the char array may be greater than the number of characters currently stored in the string builder, in which case extra characters are ignored.
/** * Save the state of the {@code StringBuilder} instance to a stream * (that is, serialize it). * * @serialData the number of characters currently stored in the string * builder ({@code int}), followed by the characters in the * string builder ({@code char[]}). The length of the * {@code char} array may be greater than the number of * characters currently stored in the string builder, in which * case extra characters are ignored. */
private void writeObject(java.io.ObjectOutputStream s) throws java.io.IOException { s.defaultWriteObject(); s.writeInt(count); char[] val = new char[capacity()]; if (isLatin1()) { StringLatin1.getChars(value, 0, count, val, 0); } else { StringUTF16.getChars(value, 0, count, val, 0); } s.writeObject(val); }
readObject is called to restore the state of the StringBuffer from a stream.
/** * readObject is called to restore the state of the StringBuffer from * a stream. */
private void readObject(java.io.ObjectInputStream s) throws java.io.IOException, ClassNotFoundException { s.defaultReadObject(); count = s.readInt(); char[] val = (char[]) s.readObject(); initBytes(val, 0, val.length); } }