Checking whether the object referenced was of type String : Defining Class « Class Definition « Java Tutorial

1. Java Tutorial
2. Class Definition
3. Defining Class

class Animal {
  public Animal(String aType) {
    type = aType;
  }
  public String toString() {
    return "This is a " + type;
  }
  private String type;
}
public class MainClass {
  public static void main(String[] a) {
    Animal pet = new Animal("a");
    if (pet.getClass() == Animal.class) {
      System.out.println("it is an animal!");
    }
  }
}

it is an animal!