Unclosed Character Literal error

Question

Got the error "Unclosed Character Literal", using BlueJ, when writing:

class abc
{
   public static void main(String args[])
   {
       String y;
       y = 'hello';
       System.out.println(y);
   }
}

But I can't figure out what is wrong. Any idea?

Thanks.

Answer 1

In Java, single quotes can only take one character, with escape if necessary. You need to use full quotation marks as follows for strings:

y = "hello";

You also used

System.out.println(g);

which I assume should be

System.out.println(y);

Note: When making char values (you'll likely use them later) you need single quotes. For example:

char foo='m';

Answer 2

Java对"String"使用双引号，对'C' "String"使用单引号。

Answer 3

I'd like to give a small addition to the existing answers. You get the same "Unclosed Character Literal error", if you give value to a char with incorrect unicode form. Like when you write:

char HI = '\3072';

You have to use the correct form which is:

char HI = '\u3072';

Answer 4

'' encloses single char , while "" encloses a String .

Change

y = 'hello';

-->

y = "hello";

Answer 5

String y = "hello";

would work (note the double quotes).

char y = 'h'; this will work for chars (note the single quotes)

but the type is the key: '' (single quotes) for one char, "" (double quotes) for string.

Answer 6

There are 8 primitive datatypes in Java. char is one of them. When compiler sees a char datatype is defined. It allocates 1 Bytes of memory from JVM heap and expects a value after = symbol with two conditions.

1. value enclosed inside ' (single quotes).
2. value to be single character long. It can be either a single character or valid code corresponding single character, which you can't type using English Keyboard.

In the same way, a datatype of String type should be enclosed with " (double quotes) and can have any length characters sequence.

In the given example you have mixed concepts of both char and String datatype. the compiler clearly saying:

Unclosed Character Literal

Means, you started with ' single quote, so compiler just expects a single character after opening ' and then a closing ' . Hence, the character literal is considered unclosed and you see the error.

So, either you use char data type and ' single quotes to enclose single character. Or use String datatype and " double quotes to enclose any length of character sequence.

So, correct way is:

String y = "hello";
System.out.println(y);

Answer 7

Character only takes one value dude! like: char y = 'h'; and maybe you typed like char y = 'hello'; or smthg. good luck. for the question asked above the answer is pretty simple u have to use DOUBLE QUOTES to give a string value. easy enough;)

Answer 8

Use double quotes symbol as I mention below Your y data type is String, and it should double quotes symbol

class abc
{
   public static void main(String args[])
   {
       String y;
       y = "hello";
       System.out.println(y);
   }
}