[FIXED] If statement doesn't return true even if two strings are exactly the same

Issue

I returned a String through a function and tried to compare using "if" block and I can clearly see those are same strings still is returns false Source code :

import java.util.HashMap;

public class solution {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String s="paper";
        String t="title";
        String ans = pivotIndex(s,t);
        System.out.println(ans);
        System.out.println(t);[output](https://i.stack.imgur.com/09NQj.png)
        if(ans == t)
        {
            System.out.println("yes");
        }
        else {
            System.out.println("no");
        }
    }

    public static String pivotIndex(String s, String t) {
        HashMap<Character, Character> map=new HashMap<>();
        String compare = t;
        for(int i=0;i<s.length();i++){
            map.put(s.charAt(i),t.charAt(i));
        }
        String ans = "";
        for(int i=0;i<s.length();i++){
            ans+= map.get(s.charAt(i));
        }
        return ans;
    }
}

enter image description here

Just wanted to return true when both string are the same!

Solution

String is a class in Java, so you should compare it with other String with equals() method. When comparing via ==, you compare links of objects, but not the objects itself. But you may be confused with this code:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String a="hello";
        String b="hello";
        
        if(a == b)
        {
            System.out.println("yes");//prints 'yes'
        }
        else {
            System.out.println("no");
        }
    }
}

When initializing with constant, constant String puts in the memory, and subsequent initializations with that constant points to that memory.

Answered By - Barsikspit
Answer Checked By - Dawn Plyler (JavaFixing Volunteer)