CS 1063: Using the toString method

CS 1063: Using the toString Method

In most of the laboratories and projects, you are asked to output objects "using the toString method." For example, step 3 in the CoinCounter lab says to: "Output the new status of counter using the toString method." This can be done in three different ways.

Assign the result of calling the toString method to a String variable, followed by printing the variable with System.out.println.
```
String counterString = counter.toString();
System.out.println("counter is " + counterString);
```
Call the toString method in the parameter of System.out.println.
```
System.out.println("counter is " + counter.toString());
```
Java has a special shortcut for calling the toString method. When you place an object variable in a System.out.println without any method, Java automatically calls the toString method.
```
System.out.println("counter is " + counter);
```

Any of three ways are correct, but programs will generally use the last one because it requires less typing.