Question about in.next() for a database.

[David Spurgeon]

After creating the scanner console and such, this is my code. I want the user to enter one of two options or it will generate an error message. However, I ALWAYS get the error message, no matter what I enter.

       System.out.println("Enter the student's status (type either resident or nonresident)");
       status = in.next();
       System.out.println(status);  //simply to check my entry for validity
            //verifies that one of two precise choices is entered.
           while (status != "resident" && status != "nonresident"){
                System.out.println("Invalid status.  Entry must be either resident or nonresident.  Enter again");
                status = in.next();
                }

Output:

Enter the student's status (type either resident or nonresident)
resident
resident
Invalid status. Entry must be either resident or nonresident. Enter again

I'm sure this is some dumb error (of course), but I don't know what it is. What am I missing?

Thank you.

[Campbell Ritchie]

That is what comes from using == and != to test reference types for equality. Try the equals method.

[David Spurgeon]

Ah! I figured out what you mean. Took a little bit to determine how to use equals() to verify INequality, but it worked.
Thank you for the quick and helpful answer!!