Java Wrapper Equality Test Explained

javawrapper

  public class WrapperTest {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        Integer i = 100;
        Integer j = 100;

        if(i == j)
            System.out.println("same");
        else
            System.out.println("not same");
    }

   }

The above code gives the output of same when run, however if we change the value of i and j to 1000 the output changes to not same. As I'm preparing for SCJP, need to get the concept behind this clear. Can someone explain this behavior.Thanks.

Best Answer

In Java, Integers between -128 and 127 (inclusive) are generally represented by the same Integer object instance. This is handled by the use of a inner class called IntegerCache (contained inside the Integer class, and used e.g. when Integer.valueOf() is called, or during autoboxing):

private static class IntegerCache {
    private IntegerCache(){}

    static final Integer cache[] = new Integer[-(-128) + 127 + 1];

    static {
        for(int i = 0; i < cache.length; i++)
            cache[i] = new Integer(i - 128);
    }
}

See also: http://www.owasp.org/index.php/Java_gotchas

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