Can't figure where I went wrong. Help needed.

[Dushyant Maheshwary]

Hi all,
I'm new to java and have been practicing coding on CodingBat (which I feel is an excellent resource for a beginner).

There is a string based program which says: Given a string, return true if the string starts with "hi" and false otherwise.

I wrote the following code for it:

public boolean startHi(String str) {
  if(str.length() <= 1)
     return false;
  else if(str.substring(0,2) == "hi")
     return true;
  else
     return false;
}

But during runtime, it doesn't return true for the following inputs:
startHi("hi there")
startHi("hi ho")

Where am I going wrong?

[Rob Spoor]

1) UseCodeTags
2) Don't use == for String comparison - that checks if the two String references are referencing the exact same object. Since substring creates a new String object that's not the case here. Use the .equals method instead:

else if(str.substring(0,2).equals("hi"))

[Dushyant Maheshwary]

First of all, I'm really sorry for posting the same thing 3 times. But it wasn't intentional. The first 2 times when I clicked on the submit button, I got a message that JavaRanch is maintaining its servers, so please try in a while. I never checked to see if the message was posted.
Secondly, I'm new here and will slowly learn the rules of the forum. I'll use Code Tags from the next time.
Finally, thank you for answering. That helped.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch

If you posted by mistake, I shall delete the duplicates.

[Rob Spoor]

Dushyant Maheshwary wrote:Finally, thank you for answering. That helped.

You're welcome

[David Newton]

You can edit your post by using the button.

[Campbell Ritchie]

David Newton wrote:You can edit your post . . .

Since he's new I'll do it for him, just this once