[java] String variable interpolation Java

Note that there is no variable interpolation in Java. Variable interpolation is variable substitution with its value inside a string. An example in Ruby:

#!/usr/bin/ruby

age = 34
name = "William"

puts "#{name} is #{age} years old"

The Ruby interpreter automatically replaces variables with its values inside a string. The fact, that we are going to do interpolation is hinted by sigil characters. In Ruby, it is #{}. In Perl, it could be $, % or @. Java would only print such characters, it would not expand them.

Variable interpolation is not supported in Java. Instead of this, we have string formatting.

package com.zetcode;

public class StringFormatting 
{
    public static void main(String[] args) 
    {
        int age = 34;
        String name = "William";

        String output = String.format("%s is %d years old.", name, age);
    
        System.out.println(output);
    }
}

In Java, we build a new string using the String.format() method. The outcome is the same, but the methods are different.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_interpolation

Edit As of 2019, JEP 326 (Raw String Literals) was withdrawn and superseded by multiple JEPs eventually leading to JEP 378: Text Blocks delivered in Java 15.

A text block is a multi-line string literal that avoids the need for most escape sequences, automatically formats the string in a predictable way, and gives the developer control over the format when desired.

However, still no string interpolation:

Non-Goals: … Text blocks do not directly support string interpolation. Interpolation may be considered in a future JEP. In the meantime, the new instance method String::formatted aids in situations where interpolation might be desired.