We generally counter with such conversion articles because many operations can be performed over a string while we are limited to when it comes to integers. We have a wide varied list of in-built methods in the String class that helps us perform hassle-free operations.
Suppose we are required to concatenate two integers then it would become a tedious job as we need to go through as we need to deal with the number system corresponding to which we will be playing mathematics within the number system. But in order to convert integers to strings in Java, we have some inbuilt methods and classes which make out work too easy.
Tip: We generally convert primitive class data members types though we have the concept of Wrapper classes to Strings because in practical programming in java we deal with strings.
How to convert int to string in Java?
There are certain methods for Integer to String conversions are mentioned below:
- Using the toString() method of the Integer class
- Using the valueOf() method of the String class
- Using Integer(int).toString() method of Integer class
- Using concatenation with an empty string
1. Using toString Method of Integer Class
The Integer class has a static method toString() that returns a String object representing the specified int parameter. The argument is converted and returned as a string instance. If the number is negative, the sign will be preserved.
Example:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using toString() Method of Integer Class // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Custom input integers int a = 1234 ; int b = - 1234 ; // Converting integer to string // using toString() method String str1 = Integer.toString(a); String str2 = Integer.toString(b); // Printing the above strings that // holds integer System.out.println( "String str1 = " + str1); System.out.println( "String str2 = " + str2); } } |
String str1 = 1234 String str2 = -1234
2. Using valueOf() method of String Class
The String class has a static method valueOf() that can be used to convert the Integer to String as shown below:
Below is the implementation of the above method:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using valueOf() Method of String class // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Custom integer input int c = 1234 ; // Converting above integer to string // using valueOf() Method String str3 = String.valueOf(c); // Printing the integer stored in above string System.out.println( "String str3 = " + str3); } } |
String str3 = 1234
3. Using toString() method of the Integer class
It is different from method 1 as proposed above, as in this method we use an instance of the Integer class to invoke its toString() method.
Below is the Implementation of the above method:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate // Integer to String Conversions // Using toString() Method of // Integer Class // Importing required classes import java.util.*; // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Custom input integer int d = 1234 ; // Converting integer to string // using toString() method of Integer class String str4 = new Integer(d).toString(); // Printing the integer value stored in above string System.out.println( "String str4 = " + str4); } } |
Output
Output explanation: If the variable is of primitive type (int), it is better to use Integer.toString(int) or String.valueOf(int). But if the variable is already an instance of Integer (wrapper class of the primitive type int), it is better to just invoke its toString() method as shown above.
Note: This method is not efficient as an instance of the Integer class is created before conversion is performed.
4. Using concatenation with an empty string
Approach: Here we will declare an empty string and using the ‘+’ operator, we will simply store the resultant as a string. Now by virtue of this, we are successfully able to append and concatenate these strings.
Below is the implementation of the above method:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using Concatenation with Empty String // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Custom integer values int a = 1234 ; int b = - 1234 ; // Concatenating with empty strings String str1 = "" + a; String str2 = "" + b; // Printing the concatenated strings System.out.println( "String str1 = " + str1); System.out.println( "String str2 = " + str2); } } |
String str1 = 1234 String str2 = -1234
Advanced Methods to Convert int to String Java
There are certain advance Methods are mentioned below:
- Using DecimalFormat Class
- Using StringBuffer class
- using StringBuilder class
- Using special radix and custom radix
1. Using DecimalFormat Class
DecimalFormat is a class that formats a number to a String.
Below is the implementation of the above method:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate // Integer to String Conversions // Using DecimalFormat Class // Importing required classes import java.text.DecimalFormat; // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Input integer value int e = 12345 ; // Creating an object of DecimalFormat class // inside main() method DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat( "#,###" ); // Converting above integral value to string String Str5 = df.format(e); // Printing the value stored in above string System.out.println(Str5); } } |
Output
Tip: Using this method, you can specify the number of decimal places and comma separator for readability.
2. Using StringBuffer class
StringBuffer is a class that is used to concatenate multiple values into a String.
Example 1:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate // Integer to String Conversions // Using StringBuffer Class // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Integer input value int f = 1234 ; // Creating an object of StringBuffer class StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(); sb.append(f); String str6 = sb.toString(); System.out.println( "String str6 = " + str6); } } |
String str6 = 1234
Example 2:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate // Integer to String Conversions // Using StringBuffer Class // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { String str6 = new StringBuffer().append( 1234 ).toString(); System.out.println( "String str6 = " + str6); } } |
String str6 = 1234
3. Using StringBuilder Class
StringBuilder works similarly but is not thread-safe like StringBuffer.
Example 1:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate // Integer to String Conversions // Using StringBuilder Class // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Input integer int g = 1234 ; // Creating an object of StringBuilder class // inside main() method StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); sb.append(g); String str7 = sb.toString(); // Printing the value stored in above string System.out.println( "String str7 = " + str7); } } |
String str7 = 1234
Example 2:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Different Ways for // Integer to String Conversions // Using StringBuilder Class // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { String str7 = new StringBuilder().append( 1234 ).toString(); // Printing the value stored in above string System.out.println( "String str7 = " + str7); } } |
String str7 = 1234
Note: All the examples above use the base (radix) 10. Following are convenient methods to convert to binary, octal, and hexadecimal systems. The arbitrary custom number system is also supported.
4A. Using special radix
Example: Binary
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using Special Radix In Binary Numbers // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Input integer int h = 255 ; String binaryString = Integer.toBinaryString(h); // Printing the binary number stored in above string System.out.println(binaryString); } } |
11111111
Output Explanation: 11111111 is the binary representation of the number 255.
Example: Octal
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using Special Radix In Octal Numbers // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Custom input integer int i = 255 ; String octalString = Integer.toOctalString(i); // Printing the octal number stored in above string System.out.println(octalString); } } |
377
377 is the octal representation of the number 255.
Example: Hexadecimal
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using Special Radix In Hexadecimal Numbers // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Custom input integer int j = 255 ; String hexString = Integer.toHexString(j); // Printing the hexadecimal number // stored in above string System.out.println(hexString); } } |
ff
The ff is the hexadecimal representation of the number 255.
4B. Custom Base/Radix
Approach: We are using the toString() method of the Integer class to get it converted into a string where additionally we will be passing a value as an argument known as radix. One can use any other custom base/radix when converting an int to a string. In the example below, we are considering the base 7 number system for illustration purposes.
Example:
Java
// Java Program to Illustrate Integer to String Conversions // Using Custom Radix // Main class class GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String args[]) { // Input integer value int k = 255 ; // Setting base as 7, converting integer to string // using toString() method and // storing it into a string String customString = Integer.toString(k, 7 ); // Printing value stored in above string System.out.println(customString); } } |
Output
Note: 513 is the representation of the number 255 when written in the base 7 system.