Java string equalsIgnoreCase() Method

Posted in Java Tutorial

Updated on Jan 15, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 52 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In Java programming, working with strings is a common and fundamental task.

The equalsIgnoreCase() method is a part of the java.lang.String class and is used to compare two strings for equality, ignoring their case.

In this tutorial, we'll explore the usage and functionality of the equalsIgnoreCase() method in Java.

💡 Syntax

The method signature for equalsIgnoreCase() is as follows:

Syntax

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public boolean equalsIgnoreCase(String anotherString);

This method takes a single parameter, anotherString, and returns a boolean value indicating whether the strings are equal, disregarding case.

📄 Example

Let's dive into an example to illustrate how the equalsIgnoreCase() method works.

StringComparison.java

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public class StringComparison {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    String str1 = "Hello, World!";
    String str2 = "HELLO, world!";

    // Compare strings ignoring case
    boolean result = str1.equalsIgnoreCase(str2);

    // Output the result
    if (result) {
      System.out.println("The strings are equal (ignoring case).");
    } else {
      System.out.println("The strings are not equal.");
    }
  }
}

💻 Output

Output

The strings are equal (ignoring case).

🧠 How the Program Works

In this example, the equalsIgnoreCase() method compares the strings "Hello, World!" and "HELLO, world!" and prints the result, ignoring case.

↩️ Return Value

The equalsIgnoreCase() method returns true if the two strings are equal, ignoring case. Otherwise, it returns false.

📚 Common Use Cases

The equalsIgnoreCase() method is particularly useful when you need to compare strings in a case-insensitive manner. This is beneficial in scenarios where case differences should not affect the comparison result.

📝 Notes

The equalsIgnoreCase() method is more forgiving than the standard equals() method when it comes to case differences.

🎢 Optimization

The equalsIgnoreCase() method is already optimized for efficient case-insensitive string comparison. No additional optimization is typically needed.

🎉 Conclusion

The equalsIgnoreCase() method in Java is a convenient tool for comparing strings without considering case differences. It simplifies tasks such as checking user input, handling configuration values, and other scenarios where case sensitivity is not crucial.

Feel free to experiment with different strings and explore the behavior of the equalsIgnoreCase() method in various scenarios. Happy coding!