What is the purpose of the expression “new String(…)” in Java?

Question

While looking at online code samples, I have sometimes come across an assignment of a String constant to a String object via the use of the new operator.

For example

Answer 1

I guess it will depend on the code samples you're seeing.

Most of the times using the class constructor "new String()" in code sample are only to show a very well know java class instead of creating a new one.

You should avoid using it most of the times. Not only because string literals are interned but mainly because string are inmutable. It doesn't make sense have two copies that represent the same object.

While the article mensioned by Ruggs is "interesting" it should not be used unless very specific circumstances, because it could create more damage than good. You'll be coding to an implementation rather than an specification and the same code could not run the same for instance in JRockit, IBM VM, or other.