reader vs inputstream; writer vs outputstream

[vcllvc]

Hi, can someone tell me what should I use between reader, inputstream and writer, outputstream. Each set of them sounds the same feature to me. I'm confused.

Thanks in advance.

Vincent.

 

[palbano]

Well, if they both seem to offer the same features that you need just pick one or even flip a coin.

-pete
_{I just can't seem to get back my IntelliSense}

 

[DarkHolmes]

I know Reader/Writer and their subclasses are character streams and there are also byte steams.Does it make no difference when they i/o by character or by byte?If so, why we have both?

 

[idarke]

Input/OutputStreams use byte arrays.

Readers/Writers operate on character arrays. They translate the characters into byte streams. They are used to handle unicode characters, which may be comprised of several bytes each.

There's an article here that explains this better:

http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/TechTips/1999/tt0216.html#tip3