Break up a string literal over multiple lines

Question

Is there a way to break up a line of code so that it is read as continuous despite being on a new line in java?

public String toString() {

  return String.format("BankAccount[owner: %s, balance: %2$.2f,\
    interest rate: %3$.2f,", myCustomerName, myAccountBalance, myIntrestRate);
  }

The code above when I do this all on one line everything works dandy but when I try to do this on multiple lines it doesn't work.

In python I know you use a \ to start typing on a new line but print as one line when executed.

A Example in Python to clarify. In python this will print on one line using a backslash or ():

print('Oh, youre sure to do that, said the Cat,\
 if you only walk long enough.')

the User would see this as:

Oh, youre sure to do that, said the Cat, if you only walk long enough.

Is there similar ways to do this in java?? Thank you!

Middlebrow

Nope, no way to do that in Java. The best you can do is concatenate with + across a line. – Stud

Could you still String.format() it or would you have to do that for every line? – Middlebrow

if you need a new line concat the String with /n in the end. – Ideate

You can't have multi-line string literals. You can still String.format if the format is concatenated between multiple lines. – Stud

@Louis Wasserman you get a single String literal in the class file as a result of a String constant expression. That's effectively a multi-line String literal, wouldn't you agree? – Gilda

@Rajith Pemabandu, "concat the String with /n" will not embed a newline in the String. That advice is incorrect. – Gilda

@LewBloch, no, I wouldn't agree. That term usually refers to how it appears in the source as it does in Python, not that the string contains newlines. – Stud

I didn't say anything about a string containing newlines, that was the other guy. – Gilda

Answer 1

Break up the string on the new line using + operator works.

public String toString() {
    return String.format("BankAccount[owner: %s, balance: "
            + "%2$.2f, interest rate:"
            + " %3$.2f]", 
            myCustomerName, 
            myAccountBalance, myIntrestRate);
}

Sample Output: BankAccount[owner: TestUser, balance: 100.57, interest rate: 12.50]

Marciamarciano

Because the multi-line string addition involving only String literals and constants is stored as a single literal in the class file, it accomplishes precisely what's being asked for. Great answer. – Gilda

Answer 2

Following Java's coding conventions:

public String toString() 
{
    return String.format("BankAccount[owner: %s, balance: %2$.2f",
                         + "interest rate: %3$.2f", 
                         myCustomerName, 
                         myAccountBalance, 
                         myIntrestRate);
}

Always have the concatenation operator at the beginning of the new line for readability.

https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/documentation/codeconventions-136091.html#248

Hope this helps!

Brady

Lobbyism