How do I use String interpolation in a Groovy multiline string?

Question

In Groovy, I have a multiline String, defined with ''', in which I need to use interpolation in order to substitute some other variables.

For all my efforts, I can't get it to work -- I assume I need to escape something, which I'm missing.

Here's some sample code:

def cretanFood = "Dakos" 
def mexicanFood = "Tacos"
def bestRestaurant = ''' 
${mexicanFood} & ${cretanFood}
'''
print bestRestaurant

At the moment, this outputs:

${mexicanFood} & ${cretanFood}

while I would clearly expect:

Tacos & Dakos

(Note - I would prefer not to concatenate the strings)

Abhinandan Satpute · Answer 1 · 2016-09-27T09:57:35.983

82

Instead of using ''' for the GString or multi-line string use """

def cretanFood     = "Dakos"  
def mexicanFood    = "Tacos"
def bestRestaurant = """${mexicanFood} & ${cretanFood}"""
print bestRestaurant

GString enclosed in ''' will not be able to resolve the placeholder - $. You can find more details in the Groovy Documentation under the heading String and String Summary Table block.

edited Sep 27 '16 at 09:57

answered Sep 27 '16 at 09:36

Abhinandan Satpute

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@gsaslis this is a bery basic groovy multiline string literal – injecteer Sep 27 '16 at 09:48
@gsaslis I have added the reason in the answer. – Abhinandan Satpute Sep 27 '16 at 10:02
@gsaslis did it answer your question? – Abhinandan Satpute Sep 27 '16 at 11:22

Andres Almiray · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-27T16:22:35.603

In Groovy, single quotes are used to create immutable Strings, just exactly like Java does with double quotes.

When you use double quotes in Groovy you indicate to the runtime your intention to create a mutable String or Groovy String (GString for short). You may use variable interpolation with mutable Strings, or you can leave it as a regular plain Java String.

This behavior extends to the multi-line String versions; usage of triple single quotes creates an immutable multi-line String whereas triple double quotes creates a Groovy String.

score -3 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:40

It may also be a good idea to add the variables out of the triple quotes and just concatenate them with the content. Something like this for the cases you have complex content inside the quotes:

def bestRestaurant = mexicanFood + """ & """ + cretanFood

Since your case is quite simple, this should do it as well:

def bestRestaurant = mexicanFood + " & " + cretanFood

How do I use String interpolation in a Groovy multiline string?

3 Answers3