diff --git a/include/utils/String8.h b/include/utils/String8.h
index ef0b51a..cef8eca 100644
--- a/include/utils/String8.h
+++ b/include/utils/String8.h
@@ -157,9 +157,12 @@
     inline  size_t              size() const;
     inline  size_t              length() const;
     inline  size_t              bytes() const;
+    inline  bool                isEmpty() const;
     
     inline  const SharedBuffer* sharedBuffer() const;
     
+            void                clear();
+
             void                setTo(const String8& other);
             status_t            setTo(const char* other);
             status_t            setTo(const char* other, size_t numChars);
@@ -345,6 +348,11 @@
     return length();
 }
 
+inline bool String8::isEmpty() const
+{
+    return length() == 0;
+}
+
 inline size_t String8::bytes() const
 {
     return SharedBuffer::sizeFromData(mString)-1;
diff --git a/libs/utils/String8.cpp b/libs/utils/String8.cpp
index 1c4f80c..6358fc4 100644
--- a/libs/utils/String8.cpp
+++ b/libs/utils/String8.cpp
@@ -292,6 +292,11 @@
     SharedBuffer::bufferFromData(mString)->release();
 }
 
+void String8::clear() {
+    SharedBuffer::bufferFromData(mString)->release();
+    mString = getEmptyString();
+}
+
 void String8::setTo(const String8& other)
 {
     SharedBuffer::bufferFromData(other.mString)->acquire();