Character Streams versus Byte Streams

The Java^TM Tutorial

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Trail: JDK(TM) 1.1 -- And Beyond!
Lesson: Migrating to 1.1

Character Streams versus Byte Streams

The following table summarizes the character stream classes. In the left column, indentation indicates subclass relationships.

Character-stream class Description Corresponding byte class

Reader Abstract class for character-input streams InputStream

    BufferedReader Buffers input, parses lines BufferedInputStream

        LineNumberReader     Keeps track of line numbers LineNumberInputStream

    CharArrayReader Reads from a character array

    InputStreamReader Translates a byte stream into a character stream (none)

        FileReader Translates bytes from a file into a character stream     FileInputStream

    FilterReader Abstract class for filtered character input FilterInputStream

        PushbackReader Allows characters to be pushed back PushbackInputStream

    PipedReader Reads from a PipedWriter PipedInputStream

    StringReader Reads from a String StringBufferInputStream

Writer Abstract class for character-output streams OutputStream

    BufferedWriter Buffers output, uses platform's line separator BufferedOutputStream

    CharArrayWriter Writes to a character array ByteArrayOutputStream

    FilterWriter Abstract class for filtered character output FilterOutputStream

    OutputStreamWriter Translates a character stream into a byte stream (none)

        FileWriter Translates a character stream into a byte file FileOutputStream

    PrintWriter Prints values and objects to a Writer PrintStream

    PipedWriter Writes to a PipedReader PipedOutputStream

    StringWriter Writes to a String (none)

Character-stream class	Description	Corresponding byte class
`Reader`	Abstract class for character-input streams	`InputStream`
`BufferedReader`	Buffers input, parses lines	`BufferedInputStream`
`LineNumberReader`	Keeps track of line numbers	`LineNumberInputStream`
`CharArrayReader`	Reads from a character array
`InputStreamReader`	Translates a byte stream into a character stream	(none)
`FileReader`	Translates bytes from a file into a character stream	`FileInputStream`
`FilterReader`	Abstract class for filtered character input	`FilterInputStream`
`PushbackReader`	Allows characters to be pushed back	`PushbackInputStream`
`PipedReader`	Reads from a `PipedWriter`	`PipedInputStream`
`StringReader`	Reads from a `String`	`StringBufferInputStream`

`Writer`	Abstract class for character-output streams	`OutputStream`
`BufferedWriter`	Buffers output, uses platform's line separator	`BufferedOutputStream`
`CharArrayWriter`	Writes to a character array	`ByteArrayOutputStream`
`FilterWriter`	Abstract class for filtered character output	`FilterOutputStream`
`OutputStreamWriter`	Translates a character stream into a byte stream	(none)
`FileWriter`	Translates a character stream into a byte file	`FileOutputStream`
`PrintWriter`	Prints values and objects to a `Writer`	`PrintStream`
`PipedWriter`	Writes to a `PipedReader`	`PipedOutputStream`
`StringWriter`	Writes to a `String`	(none)

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