if statement - Java Beginner Program Help (if, else issue) -

i'm practicing making own string reversal tool. top learning process of used method in simple application. but..
when run code in eclipse, if word = racecar , reversed becomes = racecar (word reversed). else displayed.. telling me word , reverse never equal.. but..ion case are? right? please give me advice, quite bummer. thank you.

import java.util.scanner;  public class main {      static scanner sc = new scanner(system.in);      public static void main(string[] args){      system.out.println("please enter word, i'll show reversed ");     system.out.println("and tell if read same forward , backward(a palindrome)!: ");         string word = sc.nextline();         string reverse = reverse(word);          if (reverse == word){             system.out.println("your word: " + word + " backwards " + reverse + ".");             system.out.println("your word read same forward , backward!");             system.out.println("its palindrome!");         }          else {             system.out.println("your word: " + word + " backwards " + reverse + ".");             system.out.println("your word not read same forward , backward!");             system.out.println("its not palindrome!");         }        }      public static string reverse(string source){          if (source == null || source.isempty()){             return source;         }          string reverse = "";          for(int = source.length() -1; >= 0; i--){             reverse = reverse + source.charat(i);         }          return reverse;     }  } 

always use string#equals compare strings. == compare if references equal doesn't work comparing equal strings due how stored.

if (reverse.equals(word))