Difference between null and empty (“”) Java String

Question

What is the difference between null and the "" (empty string)?

I have written some simple code:

String a = "";

String b = null;

System.out.println(a == b); // false

System.out.println(a.equals(b)); // false

Both statements return false. It seems, I am not able to find what is the actual difference between them.

Answer 1

String is an Object and can be null

null means that the String Object was not instantiated

"" is an actual value of the instantiated Object String like "aaa"

Here is a link that might clarify that point http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/concepts/object.html