String equivalent of Integer.parseInt()

Question

Hey..
Integer.parseInt() reads an integer that is being inputted right? what im looking though is some sort of a String equivalent of Integer.parseInt.
ex:
nString = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter number:");
n = Integer.parseInt(nString);
what im looking:
nString = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter text:");
n = ? (nString);
a keyword that reads the text inputted.

Answer 1

how do i reset the counter to 0 if the user tries again? because it doesn't reset and it makes a logical error if the user tries again.
while (trya != 0){
       if ((trya > 1) || (trya < 0))
          break; 
     else{
  z=JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Choose Difficulty:\n[1]BATHROOM SINGER\n[2]MAINSTREAM MUSICIAN\n[3]GRAMMY WINNER");
  x=Integer.parseInt(z);
  switch(x){
       case 1:
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"DIFFICULTY: BATHROOM SINGER");
            String stringInput = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(q1);
        if (stringInput.equals(a1)){
        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Correct!");
        i++;
        } else {
            j++;
        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"Wrong");
String stringInput29 = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(q15);
        if (stringInput29.equals(a15)){
        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Correct!");
        i++;
        } else {
            j++;
        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"Wrong");
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"Correct answers: "+i+"\nWrong answers: "+j+"\nTHANKS FOR PLAYING");
            break;
     default:
          JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"Press either [1] [2] or [3]", "ERROR",JOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
          break;
    stry = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Do you want to PLAY AGAIN? \n Press [1] for YES \n Press [0] for NO");
     trya = Integer.parseInt(stry);
  }