关于私有化构造器（private constructor）

For me the best explanation is in Effective Java book: Item 4: Enforce noninstantiability with a private constructor (See more)

In Summary:

• Private constructor is due utility classes were not designed to be instantiated, so is a design decision. (NO performance or memory overhead)
• Making a class abstract doesn't work because can be subclassed and then instantiated.
• With an abstract class the user may think the class is for inheritance.
• The only way to ensure no instantiation is to add a private constructor which ensures the default constructor is not generated.
• Private constructor prevents inheritance because the super constructor cannot be called (so it is not need the declare the class as final)
• Throw an error in the private constructor avoids call it within the class.

Definetively, the best way would be something like next:

public class MyStrings {

     private MyStrings () {
       throw new AssertionError();
     }
      ... 
 }