How to Optimize String Creation in Java?

The new operator instantiates a class by dynamically allocating(i.e, allocation at run time) memory for a new object and returning a reference to that memory. This reference is then stored in the variable. The new operator is also followed by a call to a class constructor, which initializes the new object. As string creation is the process optimally working in O(n) time complexity, where n is the length of the string.

Execution time may vary according to the performance of the computational machine.

Example :

String str = new String("GeeksforGeeks");

Time required for creation of String using new:

Java

// String creation using new keyword
import java.lang.*;

class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Array of string
        String str[] = new String[50000];

        // Clock starts
        long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        for (int i = 0; i < 50000; i++) {
            // Create new String object and copy
            str[i] = new String("GeeksforGeeks");
        }

        // End Clock
        long endTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        // Print Time
        System.out.println(
            "Creation time of String using 'new' keyword : "
            + (endTime - startTime) + " ms");
    }
}

Output

Creation time of String using 'new' keyword : 12 ms

How to Optimize String Creation?

1. By using String.intern() method:

String.intern() Method for storing only one copy of each distinct String Value, which must be immutable. It can be used to return a string from memory if it is created by a new keyword. It creates an exact copy of heap string object in string constant pool.

Syntax :

public String intern()

Return: Interned string.

Time required for creation of String using intern() method:

Java

// String creation using intern() method
import java.lang.*;

class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Array of String
        String str[] = new String[50000];

        // Clock Starts
        long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        for (int i = 0; i < 50000; i++) {
            // Create new String object and copy
            str[i] = new String("GeeksforGeeks");
            // Use of intern()
            str[i] = str[i].intern();
        }

        // End Clock
        long endTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        // Print Time
        System.out.println(
            "Creation time of String objects with intern() : "
            + (endTime - startTime) + " ms");
    }
}

Output

Creation time of String objects with intern() : 20 ms

The creation time of objects with an intern( ) and creation time of objects with ‘new’ keyword fluctuate near each other’s creation time.

2. By using string literals:

A string literal should be enclosed in double-quotes. Whenever it encounters a string literal in the programmer’s code, the compiler creates a String object with its value.

It is the fastest way of string creation.

Example :

String literal = "GeeksforGeeks";

Time required for creation of String using literals:

Java

// String creation using literals
import java.lang.*;

class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Array of String
        String str[] = new String[50000];

        // Clock starts
        long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        for (int i = 0; i < 50000; i++) {
            str[i] = "GeeksforGeeks";
        }

        // End Clock
        long endTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        // Print Time
        System.out.println(
            "Creation time of String literals : "
            + (endTime - startTime) + " ms");
    }
}

Output

Creation time of String literals : 9 ms