Check if a String Contains a Substring in Java: 2 Easy Methods

Uncovering the Power of Java Strings

When working with Java, understanding how to manipulate and analyze strings is crucial. One essential aspect of string manipulation is checking if a string contains a specific substring. In this article, we’ll explore two methods to achieve this: using the contains() method and the indexOf() method.

Method 1: Using the contains() Method

Imagine you have three strings: txt, str1, and str2. You want to determine if str1 and str2 are present within txt. The contains() method comes to the rescue. This method returns a boolean value indicating whether the specified substring is present in the original string.

Let’s see an example:
“`
String txt = “Hello, world!”;
String str1 = “world”;
String str2 = “java”;

System.out.println(txt.contains(str1)); // Output: true
System.out.println(txt.contains(str2)); // Output: false
“
As you can see, thecontains()` method efficiently checks for the presence of substrings within a string.

Method 2: Using the indexOf() Method

Another approach to check if a string contains a substring is by using the indexOf() method. This method returns the index of the first occurrence of the specified substring within the original string. If the substring is not found, it returns -1.

Here’s an example:
“`
String txt = “Hello, world!”;
String str1 = “world”;
String str2 = “java”;

System.out.println(txt.indexOf(str1)); // Output: 7
System.out.println(txt.indexOf(str2)); // Output: -1
“
By using theindexOf()` method, you can not only check for the presence of a substring but also retrieve its position within the original string.

Key Takeaways

In summary, both the contains() and indexOf() methods are essential tools for checking if a string contains a substring in Java. By mastering these methods, you’ll be able to write more efficient and effective code.