How to check if a string starts with ' " ' (double quotes)? [duplicate]

Question

Every time I write " my compiler assumes I am trying to write a String. Instead I want my method to tell me if the incoming string starts with a double quote "" Ex:

String n;
if(n==n.startsWith(" " " ));

doesn't work

Any suggestions??

have you tried '"' or "\"" instead of " " " in your startsWith approach? the actual regex to match double quotes at the beginning of a string is ^", but each language has different notation for regex literals, most common would be /^"/ I guess — Aprillion
– Aprillion, Commented Feb 1, 2015 at 17:09
Which language? Escape the double quotes with a backslash String n; if(n==n.startsWith(" \" " )); — Jens
– Jens, Commented Feb 1, 2015 at 17:10

Tymek · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-23 21:05:22Z

9

You have to escape double quotes in string! If you do it like this: " " ", string ends on second quotation mark. If in Java, you code should be like:

String n;
if(n.startsWith("\""))
{
    // execute if true
}

Since you are matching just first character, you don't need to use such sophisticated tool as regular expressions:

String n;
if (n.charAt(0)=="\"")
{
    // execute if true
}

BUT. You should make sure if string is not empty. Just for safety:

String n;
    if (n.getText()!=null 
        && !n.getText().isEmpty() 
        && n.charAt(0)=="\"")
    {
        // execute if true
    }

PS: space is a character.

PSS: flagged as dublicate.

edited May 23, 2020 at 21:05

answered Feb 1, 2015 at 17:25

Tymek

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2 Comments

user4557512 Over a year ago

Java says == doesn't work for string and char

Tymek Over a year ago

It doesn't work for string.. and any complex object. It can also cause problems with float type. Should be fine with char. I think ;)

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