What happens when you use the following syntax: String s1 = new String("asd")?

A new String object is created on the heap. The string "asd" is searched for in the String Pool. If the string "asd" is not present in the pool, it is added there. The object s1 is assigned a reference to a new String object on the heap, not to an object in the string pool.

Comparison with String s2 = "asd":

• String s1 = new String("asd"): Two objects are created (one on the heap, one in the string pool), s1 references the object on the heap.
• String s2 = "asd": At most one object is created (in the string pool), s2 references the object in the string pool (or uses an existing one if it already exists there).

Example:

String s1 = new String("asd");
String s2 = "asd";
String s3 = new String("asd");

System.out.println(s1 == s2); // false (different objects)
System.out.println(s1 == s3); // false (different objects)
System.out.println(s2 == "asd"); // true (reference to the same object in the pool)