str = new String( "The Gingham Dog" );
The new
operator of the above statement
creates an object using the constructor String().
Review: Two steps take place when an assignment operator is executed:
=
is evaluated.=
.When an object is constructed, the two steps are performed as follows:
String str; // place to hold an object reference
str = new String( "The Gingham Dog" );
--+-- ----------------+--------------
| |
|
| 1. An object is created using the constructor.
| The Java system keeps track of
| how to find the object (a reference to the object).
2. A reference to the object is stored in the variable str
.
There are three things involved in this statement: the object, a reference to the object, and the variable.
Say that you have a business card with your phone number on it.
Are the business card, your phone number, and the actual you different things?
Are a variable, a reference, and the actual object different things?