I was asked this question:

String s = "abc"; // creates one String object and one
          // reference variable
In this simple case, "abc" will go in the pool and s will refer to it.
String s = new String("abc"); // creates two objects,
                 // and one reference variable*

Based on above details how many String objects and how many reference variables were created prior to the println statement of below code?

String s1 = "spring ";
String s2 = s1 + "summer ";
s1.concat("fall ");
s2.concat(s1);
s1 += "winter ";
System.out.println(s1 + " " + s2);

My answer was The result of this code fragment is spring winter spring summer

There are two reference variables, s1 and s2. There were a total of eight String objects created as follows: "spring", "summer " (lost), "spring summer", "fall" (lost), "spring fall" (lost), "spring summer spring" (lost), "winter" (lost), "spring winter" (at this point "spring" is lost).

Only two of the eight String objects are not lost in this process.

Is it correct?

Answer is: 2 references and 8 objects.

String s1 = "spring "; //One reference and 1 object in string pool. (if it didn't exist already)

String s2 = s1 + "summer "; //Two references and 3 objects

s1.concat("fall "); //Two references and 5 objects

s2.concat(s1); //Two references and 6 objects

s1 += "winter "; //Two references and 8 objects

System.out.println(s1 + " " + s2);

Now your question: How does Java handle String objects in memory?

Java provides two ways to create object of class String.

1. String str1 = "OneString";

In this case, JVM searches the string pool to see if equivalent string exist already. if yes, returns the reference to same. if not, adds it to string pool and returns the reference. So a new object may be created OR may not be.

1. String str1 = new String("OneString");

Now, JVM has to create an object on heap. due to new. it doesn't matter if OneString is already present in string pool.

You can also put a string to pool:

You can call intern() on a String object. This will put the String object in the pool if it is not already there, and return the reference to the pooled string. (If it was already in the pool, it just returns a reference to the object that was already there).

You may like to look at following links:

What is the Java string pool and how is "s" different from new String("s")?

Questions about Java's String pool