How to use the toString method in Java?

Question

Can anybody explain to me the concept of the toString() method, defined in the Object class? How is it used, and what is its purpose?

Answer 1

Whenever you access an Object (not being a String) in a String context then the toString() is called under the covers by the compiler.

This is why

Map map = new HashMap();
System.out.println("map=" + map);

works, and by overriding the standard toString() from Object in your own classes, you can make your objects useful in String contexts too.

(and consider it a black box! Never, ever use the contents for anything else than presenting to a human)