When should you prefer InputStream vs Reader and when should you avoid it?

In Java, choosing between InputStream and Reader depends on the type of data you're dealing with. InputStream is primarily used for reading byte streams, while Reader is designed for character streams.

When to Use InputStream

Use InputStream when:

• You are working with binary data like images, audio files, or other non-text data.
• You need to handle raw byte input, such as when reading from a network connection or file streams that do not contain character encoding.

When to Use Reader

Use Reader when:

• You are processing text data, as Reader can handle character encoding properly.
• Your application processes internationalization or multi-language character sets.

When to Avoid InputStream

Avoid using InputStream when:

• You are working exclusively with text data, as converting from bytes to characters can introduce complications.

When to Avoid Reader

Avoid using Reader when:

• You need to work with binary data or byte streams, since Reader will not efficiently process such data.