equals() method

Hi all
I have a doubt on equals() method.import java.util.*;
class Equals {
public static void main(String [] args) {
Calendar a = new GregorianCalendar();
Calendar b = new GregorianCalendar();
Calendar c = new GregorianCalendar();
System.out.println("a.equals(b)?" + a.equals(b));
System.out.println("a == b)?" + (a == b));
System.out.println("b.equals(c)?" + b.equals(c));
}
}
when we run the code, we get the following:
a.equals(b)? false
a == b? false
b.equals(c)? true
Can please some one explain me why a.equals(b) returns false, and b.equals(c) returns true.
Thank you in advance
Rani.

Hi Rani
The output of your example should be:
a.equals(b)?true
a == b)?false
b.equals(c)?true
The API documentation for Calendar class says:
equals():
Compares this calendar to the specified object. The result is true if and only if the argument is not null and is a Calendar object that represents the same calendar as this object.
The Calendar class overrides equals method in such a way that if the contents of the two date objects are equal, it will return true. when an object is created using 'new' java allocates memory for the new object and initialized it to default values. So a and b both will have default values and equals method returns true.
a==b, compares the memory location. since the date objects are created new, java allocates separate memory location for the each new objects and this memeory location is different for each new object. so a==b returns false since it is not comparing the contents but physical memory location address.
Balki

Hi Balki
Thanks for your help. But When I run the code, I got
a.equals(b)? false
Can you please check the code on computer? May be I was wrong.
Thank You.

Hi Balki
Thank you for your help. Did you try the code on computer?
But I am still getting the output as
a.equals(b)? false
Can you please try it on computer and reply me back. may be I was wrong.
Thank you

I've Various Equal Test Examples in a file "TestEqual.java" at http://members.spree.com/education/javachina/Cert/TestEqual.html
It pretty much covers most situation encountered with "equal()" or "==". Some of them are pretty tricky. Check it out!
Warning: Do not try this at work!
Roseanne

Hi Rani
I just did cut & Paste of your code and ran on my machine.
It gave a.equals(b) true.
Balki

Hi Rani
I just did cut & Paste of your code and ran on my machine.
It gave a.equals(b) true.
Rahul

Hi Rani,
U r right abt the code - it gave me a false for
the first case i.e. a.equals(b)?
Actually if evryone is wondering what JDK and platform
I am using - it is JDK1.2.1 and WIN 95........
Still I am also foxed why this is happening ?
Can MahaAnna look into this ?
Praveen Zala

Hi ALL

,
I too tried that example.Out put is:
a.equals(b)?true
a == b)?false
b.equals(c)?true
I am using:
java version "1.2.2"
Classic VM (build JDK-1.2.2-W, native threads, symcjit)
It is interesting,any way

,
regards

Hi All!!
I also tried this example.My output is
a.equals(b)?true
a == b)? false
b.equals(c)?true
I am using JDK 1.2.1 on WIN98

I couldn't understand why it's giving different outputs on different JDK versions???
let me know pls...

Hello all,
Correct output from this program could be
a.equals(b)? false
or
a.equals(b)? true
The answer is defined in what equals() does in the Calendar class. It does a comparision of the Date and Time of the Calendar Object to 1/100 of a second. The faster the machine is that you are running on, the more time you'll get true as a response. The slower, the more times you'll get false. Fast CPU's can perform many operations in 1/100 of a second including the creation of Calendar Objects. On my PC, it returns true for
a.equals(b)? true
and for
b.equals(c)? true
and also for
a.equals(c)? true
This is because the three objects where created all within that 1/100 of a second. Try creating 10 of them and see how many your PC can create on average in 1/100 of a second.

Hi Carl
Thanks for your clarification. It certainly cleared a nagging doubt.
Thanks.