Java PrintStream significance and where to use this?

[sash_kp]

I found many programmers using PrintStream in their codes. I looked for this,but failed to get the clear idea of its significance,Why to use it?

"Unlike other output streams, a PrintStream never throws an IOException and the data is flushed to a file automatically i.e. the flush method is automatically invoked after a byte array is written."

So what's the benefit if flush is automatically invoked?

private PrintStream x = null;

Now what could be the possible reasons if someone declares x like this?

[jalpesh_007]

The PrintStream class contains the powerful format() and printf() methods (they do exactly the same, but the name "printf" is more familiar to C-programmers).
These methods allow you to mix text and data in very advanced ways, using a formatting string.
The PrintStream has a wide selection of contructors that enable you to connect it to a File, or an OutputStream.

or

The PrintStream class is obtained from the FilterOutputstream class that implements a number of methods for displaying textual representations of Java primitive data types.
It adds the functionality to another output streams that has the ability to print various data values conveniently.
Unlike other output streams, a PrintStream never throws an IOException and the data is flushed to a file automatically i.e. the flush method is automatically invoked after a byte array is written,