How to Convert Char to String in Java

Just as there are many different ways to convert a number to a string in Java, there are also multiple methods for converting a char to a string. In fact, there are so many options that it can be tough to know which one to choose. The good news is that no matter which method you pick, converting a char to a string is a pretty straightforward process.

Chars are primitive data types that represent a single character, while strings are objects that represent a sequence of characters. This article will show you how to convert a char to a string using the most popular methods.  

Let's get started!

How to Convert Char to String in Java

Converting a char to a string is like converting a number to a string. You are taking a single character and turning it into a series of letters. Just as with numbers, you need to use the correct syntax for the conversion to work properly.

Converting a char to a string will visually appear this way:

The most common ways to convert a char to a string in Java are:

• String Constructor Method
• String.valueOf() Method
• toString() Method
• Concatenation Method
• split() Method

Let's take a closer look at how each of these methods works.

How to Use the String Constructor to Convert Char to String in Java

The first method is pretty simple. You just need to use the following syntax:

Here, c is the char that you want to convert to a string. So, if you have a char variable named myChar with the value 'a', you would use the following code:

This would set the string variable s to "a".

One thing to keep in mind is that the char will be converted to a string with the character encoding of your system. So, if you're on a Windows system, it will be encoded using CP1252. On a Mac, it will be encoded using MacRoman.

If you want to make sure that the string is encoded using a specific character encoding, you can use this version of the String constructor:

Here, charset is the name of the character encoding that you want to use. For example, if you wanted to use UTF-8, you would use this code:

How to Use the String.valueOf() Method to Convert Char to String in Java

The String.valueOf() method is another way to convert a char to a string in Java. It's pretty similar to the String constructor method that we just looked at. The only difference is that you don't need to use the new keyword when you call it. Here's how it works:

Just like with the String constructor, c is the char that you want to convert to a string. So, if you have a char variable named myChar with the value 'a', you would use the following code:

This would set the string variable s to "a".

How to Use the toString() Method to Convert Char to String in Java

The toString() method is yet another way to convert a char to a string in Java. It's similar to the String.valueOf() method, but it has one key difference. When you use the toString() method, you need to call it on an object rather than using it as a static method. Here's how it works:

Here, c is the char that you want to convert to a string. So, if you have a char variable named myChar with the value 'a', you would use the following code:

This would set the string variable s to "a".

One thing to keep in mind is that the toString() method is inherited from the Object class. This means that it's available on all objects in Java, including char variables.

How to Use the Concatenation Method to Convert Char to String in Java

The concatenation method is a bit different from the other methods that we've looked at so far. With this method, you're not actually converting the char to a string. Instead, you're just appending the char to an empty string. It looks like this:

Here, c is the char that you want to convert to a string. So, if you have a char variable named myChar with the value 'a', you would use the following code:

This would set the string variable s to "a".

How to Use the split() Method to Convert Char to String in Java

The split() method is usually used to break up a string into multiple pieces. But it can also be used to convert a char to a string. Here's how it works:  

myChar is the char that you want to convert to a string. So, if you have a char variable named myChar with the value 'a', you would use the following code:

This would set the string array s to ["a"].

Getting Started With Converting Char to String

Converting a char to a string is a common task. As shown above, there are several ways that you can do it. Which method you use will depend on your specific needs. But all of these methods are easy to use and will get the job done.

You should now have a better understanding of how to convert a char to a string in Java. Moving forward, try to experiment with each of these methods to get a better understanding of how they work.