StringBuffer and StringBuilder are classes in Java used for creating mutable strings, but they differ in thread-safety and performance:
- StringBuffer:
- Thread-safe: Methods are synchronized, making it suitable for multi-threaded environments.
- Slower: Synchronization adds overhead, reducing performance in single-threaded scenarios.
- StringBuilder:
- Not thread-safe: Methods are not synchronized, making it faster but unsuitable for multi-threaded use.
- Faster: Performs better in single-threaded operations due to no synchronization overhead.
Use StringBuffer for thread safety and StringBuilder for better performance in single-threaded contexts. Both are mutable, unlike String, which is immutable.