Exploring Java 22's New Preview Feature: String Templates(JEP 459) with Example

Java 22's new preview features bring several updates and enhancements to the language, making it easier and more efficient for developers to build applications. One of the most anticipated features is String Templates(JEP 459), which aims to improve the handling of string interpolation in Java.

Currently in its second preview phase, String Templates offer a more powerful and flexible way to create dynamic strings, a feature that has long been requested by the Java community. Those familiar with JavaScript's Template Strings will find the concept of String Templates quite similar.

Before the introduction of String Templates, Java developers had to rely on string concatenation or String.format() for creating dynamic strings, which could often lead to errors and become tedious to use. With String Templates, this process is made simpler and more efficient.
Note: The following is just a basic example to demonstrate how String Templates work. The feature is expected to undergo significant changes before its official release.

In the classic approach using String Concatenation, the code would look something like this:

public class Main {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		String firstName = "John";
		String lastName = "Doe";
		String message = "Hello, " + firstName + " " + lastName + "! Welcome to Java 22.";
		System.out.println(message);
	}
}

‍

While this works, it can be prone to errors and becomes cumbersome when dealing with complex strings. Similarly, using String.format() also has its own limitations, such as the need to include formatting options for each variable.

public class Main {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		String firstName = "John";
		String lastName = "Doe";
		String message = String.format("Hello, %s %s! Welcome to Java 22.", firstName, lastName);
		System.out.println(message);
	}
}

‍

But with String Templates, this process becomes much simpler:

public class Main {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		String firstName = "John";
		String lastName = "Doe";
		String message = STR."Hello, \{firstName} \{lastName}! Welcome to Java 22.";
		System.out.println(message);
	}
}

‍

The STR keyword indicates the use of a String Template, and the \{} syntax allows for variables to be inserted directly into the string. This makes the code cleaner and easier to read, especially for strings with multiple dynamic parts.

Output:
Hello, John Doe! Welcome to Java 22.‍

In conclusion, String Templates offer a convenient way to handle string interpolation in Java and are expected to bring significant improvements to the language. While the current syntax is subject to change, the concept remains the same, making it a valuable addition to the Java toolkit.

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