Lalit,
The difference between these two methods is that with the decode() method you can pass octal and hexadecimal strings in addition to decimal strings. The single parameter version of the valueOf() method only interprets strings representing signed decimal integers.
For the decode() method, you pass radix specifiers such as "0x" or "#" for hex strings and "0" for octal strings.
The two parameter version of the valueOf() method is more flexible in that it can interpret strings represented in many different bases (up to base 36 I think).
Look at the following example:
Lalit, as much as I am happy to help you out here, the brief information I supplied above is all available from the
Java API javadocs. You really should learn to use the javadocs for the API - it's a skill that will you serve you well.
Regards,
JD
[ July 04, 2005: Message edited by: John Dell'Oso ]