what would be the purpose of using the toString() method in the code below?

Question

From my understanding, toString() method allows for a conversion of types example: int x = 5, sys....(x.toString()) and it prints 5 to the console. But what is the benefit/downfall of doing this as opposed to my code below? (not saying mine is better, I am genuinely curious)

here is my code:

public class GitFiddle {

    //Initalize class variables.
    private String guitarMake;
    private String guitarModel;
    private int numOfStrings;
    private String notes;
    private int jumboFrets;
    private String neckType;
    private String fingerBoard;
    private String humPickUps;
    private boolean tuned;


    //A constructor that has specific variables assigned to it.
    public GitFiddle (String guitarMake, String guitarModel, int    numOfStrings,
    String notes, int jumboFrets, String neckType, String fingerBoard,
    String humPickUps, boolean tuned) {
        this.guitarMake = guitarMake;
        this.guitarModel = guitarModel;
        this.numOfStrings = numOfStrings;
        this.notes = notes;
        this.jumboFrets = jumboFrets;
        this.neckType = neckType;
        this.fingerBoard = fingerBoard;
        this.humPickUps = humPickUps;
        this.tuned = tuned;
    }

    //Created the output that will be displayed to the user. 
    public String output()
    {
        return "My guitar is an " + guitarMake + "," + " " + guitarModel + "  which is a " + 
        numOfStrings + "-string, electric guitar." + "\nThe standard tuning for this guitar is as follows(from low to high): " 
        + notes + "." + "\nIt has " + jumboFrets + " jumbo frets on a " + neckType + ", a " + fingerBoard + 
        " fingerboard and pearl, dot inlays." + "\nIt also has dual " + humPickUps + 
        " humbucker pickups which is perfect for some sweet metal action!" + 
        "\nIs this 7-string beauty tuned up and ready to play?: " + tuned +   "\nAre you ready?";
    }

    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        //Create an instance of household item method.
        GitFiddle guitar = new GitFiddle ("Ibanez", "S-7 320 EX", 7, "B E A D G B E", 22, "Wizard, W-7 II neck", "rosewood", "EMG 81 85", true);

        //Output the status of the household item.
        System.out.println(guitar.output());
    }
}

Answer 1

make a new class:

 public class GitFiddle {
    private String guitarMake;
    private String guitarModel;
    private int numOfStrings;
    private String notes;
    private int jumboFrets;
    private String neckType;
    private String fingerBoard;
    private String humPickUps;
    private boolean tuned;

    //A constructor that has specific variables assigned to it.
    public GitFiddle (String guitarMake, String guitarModel, int    numOfStrings,
                      String notes, int jumboFrets, String neckType, String fingerBoard,
                      String humPickUps, boolean tuned) {
        this.guitarMake = guitarMake;
        this.guitarModel = guitarModel;
        this.numOfStrings = numOfStrings;
        this.notes = notes;
        this.jumboFrets = jumboFrets;
        this.neckType = neckType;
        this.fingerBoard = fingerBoard;
        this.humPickUps = humPickUps;
        this.tuned = tuned;
    }


    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "my guitar brand is: "+this.guitarMake + " and ,..";
    }

}

Answer 2

Answer after taking in suggestions and editing the appropriate portions:

public class GitFiddle {

    //Initalize class variables.
    private String guitarMake;
    private String guitarModel;
    private int numOfStrings;
    private String notes;
    private int jumboFrets;
    private String neckType;
    private String fingerBoard;
    private String humPickUps;
    private boolean tuned;


    //A constructor that has specific variables assigned to it.
    public GitFiddle (String guitarMake, String guitarModel, int numOfStrings, String notes, int jumboFrets, String neckType, String fingerBoard, String humPickUps, boolean tuned) {
        this.guitarMake = guitarMake;
        this.guitarModel = guitarModel;
        this.numOfStrings = numOfStrings;
        this.notes = notes;
        this.jumboFrets = jumboFrets;
        this.neckType = neckType;
        this.fingerBoard = fingerBoard;
        this.humPickUps = humPickUps;
        this.tuned = tuned;
    }

    //Created the output that will be displayed to the user. 
    public String toString()
    {
        return "My guitar is an " + guitarMake + "," + " " + guitarModel + " which is a " + 
        numOfStrings + "-string, electric guitar." + "\nThe standard tuning for this guitar is as follows(from low to high): " 
        + notes + "." + "\nIt has " + jumboFrets + " jumbo frets on a " + neckType + ", a " + fingerBoard + 
        " fingerboard and pearl, dot inlays." + "\nIt also has dual " + humPickUps + 
        " humbucker pickups which is perfect for some sweet metal action!" + 
        "\nIs this 7-string beauty tuned up and ready to play?: " + tuned +  "\nAre you ready?";
    }

    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        //Create an instance of household item method.
        GitFiddle guitar = new GitFiddle ("Ibanez", "S-7 320 EX", 7, "B E A D G B E", 22, "Wizard, W-7 II neck", "rosewood", "EMG 81 85", true);

        //Output the status of the household item.
        System.out.println(guitar.toString());
    }
}

Thanks again all!

Answer 3

Every class already has a toString() method. You just need to override it.

@Override
public String toString(){
   return output();
}

or you can rename the output() to toString()

in generally toString() method use for get information about class content. I

Answer 4

If I have well understood your point, you want to add a toString() method to your object.

In fact, your output() method can be replaced by the toString() method (which will be called when you want to print your object).

public String toString():
    return "My guitar is an " + guitarMake + "," + " " + guitarModel + "  which is a " + 
    numOfStrings + "-string, electric guitar." + "\nThe standard tuning for this guitar is as follows(from low to high): " 
    + notes + "." + "\nIt has " + jumboFrets + " jumbo frets on a " + neckType + ", a " + fingerBoard + 
    " fingerboard and pearl, dot inlays." + "\nIt also has dual " + humPickUps + 
    " humbucker pickups which is perfect for some sweet metal action!" + 
    "\nIs this 7-string beauty tuned up and ready to play?: " + tuned +   "\nAre you ready?";

and in your main:

System.out.println(guitar); // here toString() method is called to print your guitar object's description.

In addition, toString() method is already implemented (try System.out.println(guitar);) and adding it to your object as above is going to override it.

Answer 5

Change public String output() to public String toString(). You already built it, just gave it another name.

Answer 6

You simply add a function

public String toString(){
 String text = "Your text.";
 return text;
}

to your class. That's it.

Answer 7

there are fancy ways to do it. But if you are just getting started in programming i recomend a simple approach:

Add this to your code.

@Override
public String toString() {
    return "My guitar is an " + guitarMake + "," + " " + guitarModel + "  which is a " + 
    numOfStrings + "-string, electric guitar." + "\nThe standard tuning for this guitar is as follows(from low to high): " 
    + notes + "." + "\nIt has " + jumboFrets + " jumbo frets on a " + neckType + ", a " + fingerBoard + 
    " fingerboard and pearl, dot inlays." + "\nIt also has dual " + humPickUps + 
    " humbucker pickups which is perfect for some sweet metal action!" + 
    "\nIs this 7-string beauty tuned up and ready to play?: " + tuned +   "\nAre you ready?";
}