In this post, we will be discussing the differences between the StringBuilder and StringBuffer class. And we will see why we prefer StringBuilder over StringBuffer class.
Introduction
The String class is one of the most important classes in Java. In Java, we use string many times while coding java.
We create a new string and perform various operations on it, like adding a character or removing a character, but do you know every time you operate on the string, each time a new string object is created and assigned to your current string variable.
Most of us know that Strings are immutable.
This means we can not edit the current string object, when we try to do it we are creating a new string object.
As I said in the very first line, String is one of the most important classes in Java and we use it many times in our code. The number of string operations we creates, the same amount of garbage string objects will be available in heap, which put pressure on the Garbage Collector.
Taking this need into consideration the Java Team introduce StringBuffer class.
StringBuffer is mutable. You can edit it. But we can say that the Java Team was more concern about the correctness of the operations so they made it synchronized. All methods of the StringBuffer class are synchronized.
But what does it mean by the word "synchronized"?
Synchronization is the capability to control the access of methods. An only a single thread can access a method at one time.
That means all the methods of the StringBuffer class can be accessed by a single thread at a time.
After using it for a while, java developers feel that the StringBuffer is taking more time because of synchronization. Making all methods of StringBuffer class synchronized is not required. Then the Java team realize making StringBuffer class synchronized wasn’t a great decision and they corrected it by introducing the StringBuilder class in Java 1.5.
StringBuilder class is like StringBuffer only but with one difference.
Now we will discuss the difference between the StringBuffer and StringBuilder class in detail.
Difference Between StringBuffer and StringBuilder
To understand the difference between the StringBuffer and StringBuilder class we should first understand the need for the StringBuilder class.
We have discussed earlier that because of day to day use and a lot of pressure on the Garbage collector due to garbage string objects, the java team introduced StringBuffer class. They made it synchronized in concern with the correctness.
Making StringBuffer class synchronized causing the performance issue and that’s why StringBuilder came.
Now you can learn the difference, the StringBuffer class is synchronized while the StringBuilder class is not.
But this is the main difference. We will discuss a few more differences which came into the existence because of this main difference.
| Feature | StringBuffer | StringBuilder |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronization | StringBuffer is synchronized. That means all the methods of the StringBuffer class are synchronized. | StringBuilder is not synchronized. That is none of the methods of the StringBuilder class is synchronized. |
| Thread safety | StringBuffer is thread-safe. Since all method of StringBuffer class is synchronized, only one thread can access a method at one time. | StringBuilder is not thread-safe. Since none of the methods of StringBuilder class is synchronized, multiple threads can access a method at one time. |
| Speed | Since all methods of the StringBuffer class are synchronized, it takes more time as compared to the StringBuilder class for the same task. i.e. StringBuffer is slower as compare to StringBuilder | Since none of the methods of the StringBuilder class is synchronized, it takes less time as compare to StringBuffer class for the same task. i.e. StringBuilder is faster as compare to StringBuffer |
| Efficiency | Slower nature makes StringBuffer class inefficient. | Faster nature makes StringBuilder class efficient. |
Also, I will like to share one detail with you, when you perform the string concatenation operation and if you are using Java 1.4 or lower then java internally using StringBuffer class for string concatenation operation.
After an introduction to StringBuilder class in Java 1.5, from Java 1.5 and higher Java internally uses StringBuilder class for string concatenation.
Conclusion
The most important difference between the StringBuffer class and StringBuilder class is So, StringBuffer class takes more time as compare to StringBuilder class for performing the same operation.
Taking efficiency into consideration, it is highly recommended to use StringBuilder class instead of the old StringBuffer class.
Also, if you have other information about the difference between StringBuffer class and StringBuilder class please write it down in the comment section below.
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