Recursively getting string user input with Scanner class in java

So, I want to receive input from the user, check if they used alphabetical values and then check if it is too long. If too long, I want to start again from the top (checking if alphabetical) by calling the method I am in. However, when I start over and I type, say “Danny”, this will show:

Output: “Thank you, got Danny” Output: (length of previous, too long input) + “is too many characters, try to keep it under 30.”

So somehow, it keeps the original input (that was alphabetical, but above 30) saved and it doesn’t alter it when it starts over. Anyone know what I should do instead?

public static String inputPattern() {
    Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
    String player;
    int strLength;

    System.out.println("Please enter your name:");
    while (!scanner.hasNext("[A-Za-z]+")) { //Checks if alphabetical value
        System.out.println("Please stick to the alphabet!");
        scanner.next();
    }
    player = scanner.next();
    player += scanner.nextLine();


    System.out.println("Thank you! Got " + player);

    strLength = player.length(); // Saves the length of user-inputted name
    while (strLength > 30) { // Checks if not too long
        System.out.println(strLength + " is too many characters, please try to keep it under 30");
        inputPattern(); // Starts over again if too long
    }

    return player;
}

Answer

I have taken your method and modified it a bit.

It is non recursive solution.

Also in your code scanner resource was not closed at the end.

Iterative Solution

import java.util.Scanner;

public class SO66064473 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        inputPatternIterative();
    }

    public static String inputPatternIterative() {
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
        String player = "";
        int strLength = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

        while (strLength > 30) {                     // Checks if not too long
            System.out.println("Please enter your name:");
            while (!scanner.hasNext("[A-Za-z]+")) {             //Checks if alphabetical value
                System.out.println("Please stick to the alphabet!");
                scanner.next();
            }
            player = scanner.next();
            player += scanner.nextLine();
            System.out.println("Thank you! Got " + player);
            strLength = player.length();       // Saves the length of user-inputted name
            if (strLength > 30)
                System.out.println(strLength + " is too many characters, please try to keep it under 30");
        }
        scanner.close(); // Closing scanner resource after use.
        return player;
    }
}

Output :

Please enter your name:
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Thank you! Got aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
70 is too many characters, please try to keep it under 30
Please enter your name:
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa12
Please stick to the alphabet!
coifvoifoivmrfvoirvoirovroijfoirjfoijroifjrwofjorwfouwrfoijwrofjworjfoiwrjf
Thank you! Got coifvoifoivmrfvoirvoirovroijfoirjfoijroifjrwofjorwfouwrfoijwrofjworjfoiwrjf
75 is too many characters, please try to keep it under 30
Please enter your name:
Danny
Thank you! Got Danny

EDIT : with the suggestion made by @Dev-vruper here is updated easy recursive code

Recursive Solution

import java.util.Scanner;

public class SO66064473 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
        inputPatternRecursive(sc);
        sc.close();
    }

    public static String inputPatternRecursive(Scanner sc) {
        System.out.println("Please enter your name:");
        String player = sc.nextLine();
        if (!player.matches("[A-Za-z]+")) {
            System.out.println("Please stick to the alphabet!");
            inputPatternRecursive(sc);
        } else {
            System.out.println("Thank you! Got " + player);
            if (player.length() > 30) {
                System.out.println(player.length() + " is too many characters, please try to keep it under 30");
                inputPatternRecursive(sc);
            }
        }
        return player;
    }
}