Java Programming
Control statements
Compare string variables

To test two strings for equality, you must call one of the methods of the String object.

Two methods of the String class

Method	Description
equals(String)	Compares the value of the String object with a String argument and returns a true value if they are equal. Comparison is case-sensitive.
equalsIgnoreCase(String)	Works like the equals method but is not case-sensitive.

Examples

userEntry.equals("Y") // equal to a string literal

userEntry.equalsIgnoreCase("Y") // equal to a string literal

(!lastName.equals("Jones")) // not equal to a string literal

code.equalsIgnoreCase(productCode) // equal to another string variable

Code that compares strings (case sensitive).

import java.util.Scanner;
public class CompareStrings
{
   public static void main(String[] args)
   {
      String aName = "Carmen";
      String anotherName;
      Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
      System.out.print("Enter your name > ");
      anotherName = input.nextLine();
      if(aName.equals(anotherName))
         System.out.println(aName + " equals " + anotherName);
      else
         System.out.println(aName + " does not equal " + anotherName);
   }
}

The console after the program finishes

Code that compares strings (ignore case).

import java.util.Scanner;
public class CompareStrings2
{
   public static void main(String[] args)
   {
      String aName = "Carmen";
      String anotherName;
      Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
      System.out.print("Enter your name > ");
      anotherName = input.nextLine();
      if(aName.equalsIgnoreCase(anotherName))
         System.out.println(aName + " equals " + anotherName);
      else
         System.out.println(aName + " does not equal " + anotherName);
   }
}

The console after the program finishes