Java - Convert integer to string

Given a number:

int number = 1234;

Which would be the "best" way to convert this to a string:

String stringNumber = "1234";

I have tried searching (googling) for an answer but no many seemed "trustworthy".

There are multiple ways:

• String.valueOf(number) (my preference)

• "" + number (I don't know how the compiler handles it, perhaps it is as efficient as the above)

• Integer.toString(number)

Stack Overflow Q#5071040, score: 1099