StringBuffer class

[Mansi Vyas]

All of the StringBuffer methods operate on the value of the StringBuffer objects invoking the method. So why do some of the StringBuffer methods such as append, insert, reverse have StringBuffer as a return type? What is the point of this? The only reason I can think of is so that method calls can be chained to each other. Is this correct? Or am I missing something?
Thanks.
Mansi

[Corey McGlone]

That's right, having the method return a reference to the StringBuffer allows you to chain multiple invocations together, like this:

StringBuffer s = new StringBuffer("test");
s.append("s").reverse();

[Mansi Vyas]

Are these methods just returning a reference to this (the StringBuffer object invoking the method)?

[Corey McGlone]

Originally posted by Mansi Vyas:
Are these methods just returning a reference to this (the StringBuffer object invoking the method)?

Yup. In effect, they are performing the desired operation and then doing a "return this".