Why are these == but not `equals()`? - java

I'm a bit confused about the way Java treats == and equals() when it comes to int, Integer and other types of numbers. For example:
Integer X = 9000;
int x = 9000;
Short Y = 9000;
short y = 9000;
List<Boolean> results = new ArrayList<Boolean>();
// results.add(X == Y); DOES NOT COMPILE 1)
results.add(Y == 9000); // 2)
results.add(X == y); // 3)
results.add(X.equals(x)); // 4)
results.add(X.equals(Y)); // 5)
results.add(X.equals(y)); // 6)
System.out.println(results);
outputs (maybe you should make your guess first):
[true, true, true, false, false]
That X == Y does not compile is to be expected, being different objects.
I'm a little surprised that Y == 9 is true, given that 9 is by default an int, and given that 1) didn't even compile. Note that you can't put an int into a method expecting a Short, yet here they are equal.
This is surprising for the same reason as two, but it seems worse.
Not surprising, as x is autoboxed to and Integer.
Not surprising, as objects in different classes should not be equal().
What?? X == y is true but X.equals(y) is false? Shouldn't == always be stricter than equals()?
I'd appreciate it if anyone can help me make sense of this. For what reason do == and equals() behave this way?
Edit: I have changed 9 to 9000 to show that this behavior is not related to the any unusual ways that the integers from -128 to 127 behave.
2nd Edit: OK, if you think you understand this stuff, you should consider the following, just to make sure:
Integer X = 9000;
Integer Z = 9000;
short y = 9000;
List<Boolean> results = new ArrayList<Boolean>();
results.add(X == Z); // 1)
results.add(X == y); // 2)
results.add(X.equals(Z)); // 3)
results.add(X.equals(y)); // 4)
System.out.println(results);
outputs:
[false, true, true, false]
The reason, as best as I understand it:
Different instance, so different.
X unboxed, then same value, so equal.
Same value, so equal.
y cannot be boxed to an Integer so cannot be equal.

(small) Integer instances are cached, so the invariant x == y is holded for small instances (actually -127 +128, depends on JVM):
Integer a = 10;
Integer b = 10;
assert(a == b); // ok, same instance reused
a = 1024;
b = 1024;
assert(a == b); // fail, not the same instance....
assert(a.equals(b)); // but same _value_
EDIT
4) and 5) yield false because equals check types: X is an Integer whereas Y is a Short. This is the java.lang.Integer#equals method:
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (obj instanceof Integer) {
return value == ((Integer)obj).intValue();
}
return false;
}

The reason for
X == y
being true has to do with binary numeric promotion. When at least one operand to the equality operator is convertible to a numeric type, the numeric equality operator is used. First, the first operand is unboxed. Then, both operands are converted to int.
While
X.equals(y)
is a normal function call. As has been mentioned, y will be autoboxed to a Short object. Integer.equals always returns false if the argument is not an Integer instance. This can be easily seen by inspecting the implementation.
One could argue that this is a design flaw.

The morale of the story:
Autoboxing/unboxing is confusing, as is type promotion. Together, they make for good riddles but horrendous code.
In practice, it seldom makes sense to use numeric types smaller than int, and I'm almost inclined to configure my eclipse compiler to flag all autoboxing and -unboxing as an error.

Your problem here is not only how it treats == but autoboxing... When you compare Y and 9 you are comparing two primitives that are equal, in the last two cases you get false simply because that's how equals work. Two objects are equal only if they are of the same kind and have the same value.
When you say in "X.equals(y)" you are telling it to do Integer.equals(Short) and looking at the implementation of Integer.equals() it will fail:
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (obj instanceof Integer) {
return value == ((Integer)obj).intValue();
}
return false;
}
Because of autoboxing the last two will result in the same failure as they will both be passed in as Shorts.
Edit: Forgot one thing... In the case of results.add(X == y); it will unbox X and do (X.intValue() == y) which happens to be true as well as 9 == 9

This automatic conversion is called autoboxing.

I remember a good practice for overriding "equal(object obj)" is of first checking the type of the parameter passed in. So perhap this causes X.equals(Y) to be false. You might check the souce code to dig out the truth :)

A bit more detail on how autoboxing works and how "small" valued Integer objects are cached:
When a primitive int is autoboxed into an Integer, the compiler does that by replacing the code with a call to Integer.valueOf(...). So, the following:
Integer a = 10;
is replaced by the compiler with the following:
Integer a = Integer.valueOf(10);
The valueOf(...) method of class Integer maintains a cache that contains Integer objects for all values between -127 and 128. If you call valueOf(...) with a value that's in this range, the method returns a pre-existing object from the cache. If the value is outside the range, it returns a new Integer object initialized with the specified value. (If you want to know exactly how it works, lookup the file src.zip in your JDK installation directory, and look for the source code of class java.lang.Integer in it.)
Now, if you do this:
Integer a = 10;
Integer b = 10;
System.out.println(a == b);
you'll see that true is printed - but not because a and b have the same value, but because a and b are referring to the same Integer object, the object from the cache returned by Integer.valueOf(...).
If you change the values:
Integer a = 200;
Integer b = 200;
System.out.println(a == b);
then false is printed, because 200 is outside the range of the cache, and so a and b refer to two distinct Integer objects.
It's unfortunate that == is used for object equality for value types such as the wrapper classes and String in Java - it's counter-intuitive.

Java will convert an Integer into an int automatically, if needed. Same applies to Short. This feature is called autoboxing and autounboxing. You can read about it here.
It means that when you run the code:
int a = 5;
Integer b = a;
System.out.println(a == b);
Java converts it into:
int a = 5;
Integer b = new Integer(a);
System.out.println(a == b.valueOf());

Related

Java - boxing integer - why it return true if should return false

I'm comparing two pieces of code
Integer x = new Integer(0), y;
y=x;
x+=0;
System.out.println(x==y); // prints false
And
Integer x = 0, y;
y=x;
x+=0;
System.out.println(x==y); // prints true
Shouldn't both return false? It's not primitive variable and somehow in the second code even after adding zero, it prints true. I know about boxing (for Integer from -128 to 127) but then why boxing works in the second piece of code and not on the first one?
Shouldn't both return false?
The line
x += 0;
is the same as
x = Integer.valueOf(x.intValue() + 0);
so you see it uses boxing and unboxing to complete the operations.
The second example only uses boxing so it works as expected.
In the first example, you explicitly avoid boxing with
Integer x = new Integer(0);
This forces it to create a new object which is different to the boxed object.
If you do
Integer x = Integer.valueOf(0);
it will behave the same as the second example.
no, because the Integer in the range of -128 - 127 are getting cached. In your first example you are explicity creating a new Integer, despite the fact that each Integer in the range of -128 - 127 would refer to the same object.
You can notify this if you add something in your first example.
Notify that this will only work in the Integer range of -128 - 127
Integer x = new Integer(0), y;
Integer z = 0; // refers to the cached value.
y=x;
x+=0;
System.out.println(x==z); // This will now print true, since x+=0 will return the cached Integer.
Your second example wont work anymore aswell if you would change the value x to something different, for example 360
[update] Using new Integer(int) is guaranteed to always result in a new object whereas Integer.valueOf(int) allows caching of values to be done by the compiler, class library, or JVM.
To explain I have written below code and used javap tool, command to generate below code I used javap -c <Classname> which gives you byte code.
Integer x = new Integer(0), y;
y=x;
x+=0;
System.out.println(x==y); // prints false
If you will see in the above code it creates new object with dynamic memory allocator which is new. Now in second case as below:
Integer x = 0, y;
y=x;
x+=0;
System.out.println(x==y); // prints true
As said by Peter it uses valueOf method which means it is comparing same object at run time so it will return true with object comparison operator (==). But in first case it was creating new object which is conspicuous in below debugging snapshot:
I hope this helps. :)
By the way Kevin Esche answer also adds to the question. Because it is basically referencing to cached object, try to relate it in case of String. If you are using new String("some_string") it will create new object else if available it will use from string pool. And remember you are using wrapper classes not primitive.
Because,
Integer x is an object.
So == , compares reference and not value.
int x is not an object
So == , compares value
Your simple code:
Integer x = new Integer(0), y;
y=x;
x+=0;
System.out.println(x==y); // prints false
System.out.println(x.equals(y)); // prints true
int x1, y1;
x1 = 5;
y1 = x1;
System.out.println(x1==y1); // prints true
System.out.println(((Integer) x1).equals(y1)); //prints true
And results:
false
true
true
true
best regards
OK - I have seen the response with javap (thanks for that answer) and I understand what I miss. However, I find the piece of code that I propose remains interesting.

Primitive int vs Integer type [duplicate]

I just saw code similar to this:
public class Scratch
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Integer a = 1000, b = 1000;
System.out.println(a == b);
Integer c = 100, d = 100;
System.out.println(c == d);
}
}
When ran, this block of code will print out:
false
true
I understand why the first is false: because the two objects are separate objects, so the == compares the references. But I can't figure out, why is the second statement returning true? Is there some strange autoboxing rule that kicks in when an Integer's value is in a certain range? What's going on here?
The true line is actually guaranteed by the language specification. From section 5.1.7:
If the value p being boxed is true,
false, a byte, a char in the range
\u0000 to \u007f, or an int or short
number between -128 and 127, then let
r1 and r2 be the results of any two
boxing conversions of p. It is always
the case that r1 == r2.
The discussion goes on, suggesting that although your second line of output is guaranteed, the first isn't (see the last paragraph quoted below):
Ideally, boxing a given primitive
value p, would always yield an
identical reference. In practice, this
may not be feasible using existing
implementation techniques. The rules
above are a pragmatic compromise. The
final clause above requires that
certain common values always be boxed
into indistinguishable objects. The
implementation may cache these, lazily
or eagerly.
For other values, this formulation
disallows any assumptions about the
identity of the boxed values on the
programmer's part. This would allow
(but not require) sharing of some or
all of these references.
This ensures that in most common
cases, the behavior will be the
desired one, without imposing an undue
performance penalty, especially on
small devices. Less memory-limited
implementations might, for example,
cache all characters and shorts, as
well as integers and longs in the
range of -32K - +32K.
public class Scratch
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Integer a = 1000, b = 1000; //1
System.out.println(a == b);
Integer c = 100, d = 100; //2
System.out.println(c == d);
}
}
Output:
false
true
Yep the first output is produced for comparing reference; 'a' and 'b' - these are two different reference. In point 1, actually two references are created which is similar as -
Integer a = new Integer(1000);
Integer b = new Integer(1000);
The second output is produced because the JVM tries to save memory, when the Integer falls in a range (from -128 to 127). At point 2 no new reference of type Integer is created for 'd'. Instead of creating a new object for the Integer type reference variable 'd', it only assigned with previously created object referenced by 'c'. All of these are done by JVM.
These memory saving rules are not only for Integer. for memory saving purpose, two instances of the following wrapper objects (while created through boxing), will always be == where their primitive values are the same -
Boolean
Byte
Character from \u0000 to \u007f (7f is 127 in decimal)
Short and Integer from -128 to 127
Integer objects in some range (I think maybe -128 through 127) get cached and re-used. Integers outside that range get a new object each time.
Integer Cache is a feature that was introduced in Java Version 5 basically for :
Saving of Memory space
Improvement in performance.
Integer number1 = 127;
Integer number2 = 127;
System.out.println("number1 == number2" + (number1 == number2);
OUTPUT: True
Integer number1 = 128;
Integer number2 = 128;
System.out.println("number1 == number2" + (number1 == number2);
OUTPUT: False
HOW?
Actually when we assign value to an Integer object, it does auto promotion behind the hood.
Integer object = 100;
is actually calling Integer.valueOf() function
Integer object = Integer.valueOf(100);
Nitty-gritty details of valueOf(int)
public static Integer valueOf(int i) {
if (i >= IntegerCache.low && i <= IntegerCache.high)
return IntegerCache.cache[i + (-IntegerCache.low)];
return new Integer(i);
}
Description:
This method will always cache values in the range -128 to 127,
inclusive, and may cache other values outside of this range.
When a value within range of -128 to 127 is required it returns a constant memory location every time.
However, when we need a value thats greater than 127
return new Integer(i);
returns a new reference every time we initiate an object.
Furthermore, == operators in Java is used to compares two memory references and not values.
Object1 located at say 1000 and contains value 6.
Object2 located at say 1020 and contains value 6.
Object1 == Object2 is False as they have different memory locations though contains same values.
Yes, there is a strange autoboxing rule that kicks in when the values are in a certain range. When you assign a constant to an Object variable, nothing in the language definition says a new object must be created. It may reuse an existing object from cache.
In fact, the JVM will usually store a cache of small Integers for this purpose, as well as values such as Boolean.TRUE and Boolean.FALSE.
My guess is that Java keeps a cache of small integers that are already 'boxed' because they are so very common and it saves a heck of a lot of time to re-use an existing object than to create a new one.
That is an interesting point.
In the book Effective Java suggests always to override equals for your own classes. Also that, to check equality for two object instances of a java class always use the equals method.
public class Scratch
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Integer a = 1000, b = 1000;
System.out.println(a.equals(b));
Integer c = 100, d = 100;
System.out.println(c.equals(d));
}
}
returns:
true
true
Direct assignment of an int literal to an Integer reference is an example of auto-boxing, where the literal value to object conversion code is handled by the compiler.
So during compilation phase compiler converts Integer a = 1000, b = 1000; to Integer a = Integer.valueOf(1000), b = Integer.valueOf(1000);.
So it is Integer.valueOf() method which actually gives us the integer objects, and if we look at the source code of Integer.valueOf() method we can clearly see the method caches integer objects in the range -128 to 127 (inclusive).
/**
* Returns an {#code Integer} instance representing the specified
* {#code int} value. If a new {#code Integer} instance is not
* required, this method should generally be used in preference to
* the constructor {#link #Integer(int)}, as this method is likely
* to yield significantly better space and time performance by
* caching frequently requested values.
*
* This method will always cache values in the range -128 to 127,
* inclusive, and may cache other values outside of this range.
*
* #param i an {#code int} value.
* #return an {#code Integer} instance representing {#code i}.
* #since 1.5
*/
public static Integer valueOf(int i) {
if (i >= IntegerCache.low && i <= IntegerCache.high)
return IntegerCache.cache[i + (-IntegerCache.low)];
return new Integer(i);
}
So instead of creating and returning new integer objects, Integer.valueOf() the method returns Integer objects from the internal IntegerCache if the passed int literal is greater than -128 and less than 127.
Java caches these integer objects because this range of integers gets used a lot in day to day programming which indirectly saves some memory.
The cache is initialized on the first usage when the class gets loaded into memory because of the static block. The max range of the cache can be controlled by the -XX:AutoBoxCacheMax JVM option.
This caching behaviour is not applicable for Integer objects only, similar to Integer.IntegerCache we also have ByteCache, ShortCache, LongCache, CharacterCache for Byte, Short, Long, Character respectively.
You can read more on my article Java Integer Cache - Why Integer.valueOf(127) == Integer.valueOf(127) Is True.
In Java the boxing works in the range between -128 and 127 for an Integer. When you are using numbers in this range you can compare it with the == operator. For Integer objects outside the range you have to use equals.
If we check the source code of the Integer class, we can find the source of the valueOf method just like this:
public static Integer valueOf(int i) {
if (i >= IntegerCache.low && i <= IntegerCache.high)
return IntegerCache.cache[i + (-IntegerCache.low)];
return new Integer(i);
}
This explains why Integer objects, which are in the range from -128 (Integer.low) to 127 (Integer.high), are the same referenced objects during the autoboxing. And we can see there is a class IntegerCache that takes care of the Integer cache array, which is a private static inner class of the Integer class.
There is another interesting example that may help to understand this weird situation:
public static void main(String[] args) throws ReflectiveOperationException {
Class cache = Integer.class.getDeclaredClasses()[0];
Field myCache = cache.getDeclaredField("cache");
myCache.setAccessible(true);
Integer[] newCache = (Integer[]) myCache.get(cache);
newCache[132] = newCache[133];
Integer a = 2;
Integer b = a + a;
System.out.printf("%d + %d = %d", a, a, b); // The output is: 2 + 2 = 5
}
In Java 5, a new feature was introduced to save the memory and improve performance for Integer type objects handlings. Integer objects are cached internally and reused via the same referenced objects.
This is applicable for Integer values in range between –127 to +127
(Max Integer value).
This Integer caching works only on autoboxing. Integer objects will
not be cached when they are built using the constructor.
For more detail pls go through below Link:
Integer Cache in Detail
Class Integer contains cache of values between -128 and 127, as it required by JLS 5.1.7. Boxing Conversion. So when you use the == to check the equality of two Integers in this range, you get the same cached value, and if you compare two Integers out of this range, you get two diferent values.
You can increase the cache upper bound by changing the JVM parameters:
-XX:AutoBoxCacheMax=<cache_max_value>
or
-Djava.lang.Integer.IntegerCache.high=<cache_max_value>
See inner IntegerCache class:
/**
* Cache to support the object identity semantics of autoboxing for values
* between -128 and 127 (inclusive) as required by JLS.
*
* The cache is initialized on first usage. The size of the cache
* may be controlled by the {#code -XX:AutoBoxCacheMax=<size>} option.
* During VM initialization, java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache.high property
* may be set and saved in the private system properties in the
* sun.misc.VM class.
*/
private static class IntegerCache {
static final int low = -128;
static final int high;
static final Integer cache[];
static {
// high value may be configured by property
int h = 127;
String integerCacheHighPropValue =
sun.misc.VM.getSavedProperty("java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache.high");
if (integerCacheHighPropValue != null) {
try {
int i = parseInt(integerCacheHighPropValue);
i = Math.max(i, 127);
// Maximum array size is Integer.MAX_VALUE
h = Math.min(i, Integer.MAX_VALUE - (-low) -1);
} catch( NumberFormatException nfe) {
// If the property cannot be parsed into an int, ignore it.
}
}
high = h;
cache = new Integer[(high - low) + 1];
int j = low;
for(int k = 0; k < cache.length; k++)
cache[k] = new Integer(j++);
// range [-128, 127] must be interned (JLS7 5.1.7)
assert IntegerCache.high >= 127;
}
private IntegerCache() {}
}

Clarification regarding Integer comparison? [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Boxed Primitives and Equivalence
(4 answers)
Closed 9 years ago.
class Demo{
public static void main(String[] args) {
Integer i = Integer.valueOf(127);
Integer j = Integer.valueOf(127);
System.out.println(i==j);
Integer k = Integer.valueOf(128);
Integer l = Integer.valueOf(128);
System.out.println(k==l);
}
}
The first print statement prints true whereas the second one prints false.Why?
Please explain in detail.
It is because Integer caching.
From java language specification 5.1.7
If the value p being boxed is true, false, a byte, or a char in the range
\u0000 to \u007f, or an int or short number between -128 and 127 (inclusive),
then let r1 and r2 be the results of any two boxing conversions of p.
It is always the case that r1 == r2.
Ideally, boxing a given primitive value p, would always yield an identical reference.
Integer i = Integer.valueOf(127);
Integer j = Integer.valueOf(127);
Both i and j point to same object. As the value is less than 127.
Integer k = Integer.valueOf(128);
Integer l = Integer.valueOf(128);
Both k & l point to different objects. As the value is greater than 127.
As, you are checking the object references using == operator, you are getting different results.
Update
You can use equals() method to get the same result
System.out.println(i.equals(j));//equals() compares the values of objects not references
System.out.println(k.equals(l));//equals() compares the values of objects not references
Output is
true
true
== operator checks the actual object references.
equals() checks the values(contents) of objects.
Answer to comment
You have,
Integer i = Integer.valueOf(127);
Here new object is created & reference is assigned to i
Integer j = Integer.valueOf(127); //will not create new object as it already exists
Due to integer caching (number between -128 to 127) previously created object reference is assigned to j, then i and j point to same objects.
Now consider,
Integer p = Integer.valueOf(127); //create new object
Integer q = Integer.valueOf(126); //this also creates new object as it does not exists
Obviously both checks using == operator and equals() method will result false. As both are different references and have different vales.
i==j
is true for values between -128 and 127 due to integer caching.
From language spec
If the value p being boxed is true, false, a byte, or a char in the range \u0000 to \u007f, or an int or short number between -128 and 127 (inclusive), then let r1 and r2 be the results of any two boxing conversions of p. It is always the case that r1 == r2.
Integer i = Integer.valueOf(127); // new object
Integer j = Integer.valueOf(127); //cached object reference
Integer k = Integer.valueOf(128); // new object
Integer l = Integer.valueOf(128); // new object
So i and j are pointing to same reference because of value 127.
Where as k and l pointing to difference references, because their value >127
There is a reason mentioned in docs for this behaviour:
The behavior will be the desired one, without imposing an undue performance penalty, especially on small devices. Less memory-limited implementations might
valueOf returns an Integer Object. Integer is a wrapper class for int. For your case,
Integer == Integer compares the actual object reference, where int == int will compare the values.
As already stated, values -128 to 127 are cached, so the same objects are returned for those.
If outside that range, separate objects will be created so the reference will be different.
You fix it by following way if you want same result for your both cases:
Make the types int
Cast the types to int or
Use .equals()

Comparing doubles in Java gives odd results

I really can'get my head around why the following happens:
Double d = 0.0;
System.out.println(d == 0); // is true
System.out.println(d.equals(0)); // is false ?!
This however works as expected:
Double d = 0.0;
System.out.println(d == 0.0); // true
System.out.println(d.equals(0.0)); // true
I'm positive that this is related to autoboxing in some way, but I really don't know why 0 would be boxed differently when the == operator is used and when .equals is called.
Doesn't this implicitly violate the equals contract ?
* It is reflexive: for any non-null reference value
* x, x.equals(x) should return
* true.
EDIT:
Thanks for the fast answers. I figured that it is boxed differently, the real question is: why is it boxed differently ? I mean that this would be more intuitive if d == 0d than d.equals(0d) is intuitive and expected, however if d == 0 which looks like an Integer is true than 'intuitively' d.equals(0) should also be true.
just change it to
System.out.println(d.equals(0d)); // is false ?! now true
You were comparing double with Integer 0
Under the cover
System.out.println(d.equals(0)); // is false ?!
0 will be autoboxed to Integer and an instance of Integer will be passed to equals() method of Double class, where it will compare like
#Override
public boolean equals(Object object) {
return (object == this)
|| (object instanceof Double)
&& (doubleToLongBits(this.value) == doubleToLongBits(((Double) object).value));
}
which is going to return false of course.
Update
when you do comparison using == it compares values so there is no need to autobox , it directly operates on value. Where equals() accepts Object so if you try to invoke d1.equals(0) , 0 is not Object so it will perform autoboxing and it will pack it to Integer which is an Object.
Number objects only equal to numbers with the same value if they are of the same type. That is:
new Double(0).equals(new Integer(0));
new BigInteger("0").equals(new BigDecimal("0"));
and similar combinations are all false.
In your case, the literal 0 is boxed into an Integer object.
It's probably worth noting that you should compare floating point numbers like this:
|x - y| < ε, ε very small
d.equals(0) : 0 is an int. The Double.equals() code will return true only for Double objects.
When you perform
d == 0
this is upcast to
d == 0.0
however there are no upcasting rules for autoboxing and even if there were equals(Object) gives no hits that you want a Double instead of an Integer.

Boxed Primitives and Equivalence

So I was asked this question today.
Integer a = 3;
Integer b = 2;
Integer c = 5;
Integer d = a + b;
System.out.println(c == d);
What will this program print out? It returns true. I answered it will always print out false because of how I understood auto (and auto un) boxing. I was under the impression that assigning Integer a = 3 will create a new Integer(3) so that an == will evaluate the reference rather then the primitive value.
Can anyone explain this?
Boxed values between -128 to 127 are cached. Boxing uses Integer.valueOf method, which uses the cache. Values outside the range are not cached and always created as a new instance. Since your values fall into the cached range, values are equal using == operator.
Quote from Java language specification:
If the value p being boxed is true,
false, a byte, a char in the range
\u0000 to \u007f, or an int or short
number between -128 and 127, then let
r1 and r2 be the results of any two
boxing conversions of p. It is always
the case that r1 == r2.
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-5.html#jls-5.1.7
This is what is really happening:
Integer c = Integer.valueOf(5);
Integer d = Integer.valueOf(a.intValue() + b.intValue());
Java maintains a cache of Integer objects between -128 and 127. Compare with the following:
Integer a = 300;
Integer b = 200;
Integer c = 500;
Integer d = a + b;
System.out.println(c == d);
Which should print false.
It's because some of the (auto-boxed) Integers are cached, so you're actually comparing the same reference -- this post has more detailed examples and an explanation.
Caching happens outside of autoboxing too, consider this:
Integer a = 1;
Integer b = new Integer(1);
Integer c = Integer.valueOf(1);
System.out.println(a == b);
System.out.println(b == c);
System.out.println(c == a);
this will print:
false
false
true
Generally you want to stay away from == when comparing Objects

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