What is the difference between Scanner and BufferReader Class in Java?

The java.util.Scanner class is a simple text scanner that can parse primitive types and strings. It uses regular expressions internally to read different types.

The java.io.BufferedReader class reads text from the character input stream and buffers the characters so that the string can be read efficiently

Following are the differences between the above two.

Scanner and BufferedReader are two classes in Java used for reading input from various sources. However, there are some significant differences between these two classes.

The Scanner class is used for parsing tokens from the input stream, such as strings, integers, and floats, while the BufferedReader class is used for reading characters from the input stream. In other words, the Scanner class is used for reading and parsing data, while the BufferedReader class is used for reading data character by character.

Another difference between these two classes is the way they handle white space. The Scanner class by default uses white space, such as spaces and tabs, as delimiters to separate tokens, while the BufferedReader class does not treat white space as delimiters. This means that the Scanner class is more convenient for parsing input that is separated by white space, while the BufferedReader class is more suitable for reading input that has a fixed format.

In terms of performance, the BufferedReader class is generally faster than the Scanner class because it reads input character by character instead of parsing tokens. Therefore, if you need to read large amounts of input, it is recommended to use the BufferedReader class.

In summary, the Scanner class is suitable for reading and parsing data from input that is separated by white space, while the BufferedReader class is suitable for reading input that has a fixed format and is generally faster for reading large amounts of input.

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