Backend>Questions

Java equals() selection

sona11

sona11

Java equals() selection

In Java, if I try to do.equals() on a null string, a null pointer error is issued. I’m wondering whether I can perform the following if I’m attempting to compare if a string is equal to a constant string:
MY CONSTANT STRING.equals(aStringVariable)
I’m sure it’ll work, but is this simply extremely bad code?
This is a common Java idiom known colloquially as a Yoda condition. Personally, I prefer to handle the null situation directly, but the Yoda method is widely used, and any competent Java programmer should quickly grasp what is going on. How should I proceed?

3 comments
/java
4 1150 3

Most Liked

faust

faust

I think that it is important to discuss with your team how the majority feels about this kind of situation and create a guideline for the project.

Anyway, I personally prefer to use Enums instead of this kind of constant.

1
Post #3
finner

finner

Hi @sona11,
If you are using Java8 (or ablove) you can use Optional - for example:

boolean eq = Optional.ofNullable(aStringVariable)
            .map(s -> s.equals(MY_CONSTANT_STRING))
            .orElse(false);

And when the aStringValue is null there will no NullPointerException

I hope I understood the question correctly, does that help?

1
Post #4
sona11

sona11

Thanks you and yes it does help.

1
Post #5

Where Next?

View thread on forum
java
Home Backend>Questions
/java
4 1150 3
Last post

Popular Backend topics Top

Kurisu
Backend>Questions

I'm curious if I can have a feature like Elixir/Phoenix umbrella project when using Ruby On Rails
Following on an old discussion I started on Elixir Forum here, I finally made my mind to learn Ruby on Rails in addition to Elixir/Phoen...
/elixir/ruby/rails/phoenix
20 1995 9
New
Kurisu
Backend>Questions

Ruby on Rails book recommendations please
Hello and happy new year! I would like to buy a Ruby On Rails ebook for learning purpose. What would be the ROR equivalent of “Programm...
/ruby/rails#book
17 1898 7
New
jaimeiniesta
Backend>Questions

Screenshots as a service
I maintain a project that lists hundreds of thousands of web pages, and I’d like to show a screenshot for each web page. There are alread...
#screenshots
2 1202 1
New
joshi
Backend>Questions

Export data from Oracle export files (expdp) to PostgreSQL
Hey everybody! I’m working on the project that includes import of Oracle data to PostgreSQL. That data comes as Oracle export (expdp) fi...
#postgres#oracle
2 1891 1
New
bsek43
Backend>Questions

Phoenix LiveView learning resources?
Hello everyone, I’ve started learning Elixir and Phoenix few months ago and while I mostly grasped Elixir’s functional concepts and Phoe...
/phoenix
10 1551 3
New
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

How to set env vars on GitHub Actions for a Windows release?
Background I am trying to get a Github Action working with Windows and Bakeware because I am trying to create a release using it. Howeve...
/elixir#github
6 1278 1
New
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

Is there a way to have 2 icons when using elixir-desktop?
Background I have a personal project that is an elixir desktop application for PC Windows. It works pretty well, but now I want to give i...
/elixir#desktop
2 1082 1
New
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

How to extract a tarball?
Background I have a release file inside a tarball. However I want the final release to have some additional files and to move things aro...
/elixir
2 816 1
New
Patricia-Mendes13
Backend>Questions

Connection backend to frontend for orders
Hi guys!! I´m studying and got a Full stack course but the course lacked a lot of support and and info to learn as it´s a course after wo...
#backend-development
2 401 1
New
AstonJ
Backend>Questions

Psql: error: connection to server on socket "/tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432" failed: No such file or directory
If you’re getting errors like this: psql: error: connection to server on socket “/tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432” failed: No such file or directory ...
#macos/rails/postgresql
1 5553 1
New

Other popular topics Top

AstonJ
General Dev>Hardware

Which keyboard do you have?
If it’s a mechanical keyboard, which switches do you have? Would you recommend it? Why? What will your next keyboard be? Pics always w...
#hardware/keyboards#sticky#mechanical-keyboards
144 9115 50
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Backend>Learning Resources

Testing Elixir
Write Elixir tests that you can be proud of. Dive into Elixir’s test philosophy and gain mastery over the terminology and concepts that u...
pragprog.com
#pragprog/elixir#published-book/book-testing-elixir
33 5004 8
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Data Science

Genetic Algorithms in Elixir
From finance to artificial intelligence, genetic algorithms are a powerful tool with a wide array of applications. But you don't need an ...
#pragprog#ai/elixir#published-book/book-genetic-algorithms-in-elixir
25 5243 6
New
dimitarvp
macOS>Chat

My thoughts on macOS vs Linux
Small essay with thoughts on macOS vs. Linux: I know @Exadra37 is just waiting around the corner to scream at me “I TOLD YOU SO!!!” but I...
#macos#linux
166 9730 69
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Frontend>Learning Resources

Modern CSS with Tailwind
Tailwind CSS is an exciting new CSS framework that allows you to design your site by composing simple utility classes to create complex e...
pragprog.com
#pragprog/tailwind#published-book/book-modern-css-with-tailwind
12 5813 4
New
husaindevelop
Android>Questions

Clipboard readtext not working in android webview
Inside our android webview app, we are trying to paste the copied content from another app eg (notes) using navigator.clipboard.readtext ...
#android#clipboard
1 5651 0
New
PragmaticBookshelf
General Dev>Learning Resources

A Common-Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms in Python, Volume 1
Big O Notation can make your code faster by orders of magnitude. Get the hands-on info you need to master data structures and algorithms ...
pragprog.com
#pragprog/python#published-book/book-a-common-sense-guide-to-data-structures-and-algorithms-in-python-volume-1
24 5988 11
New
First poster: AstonJ
General Dev>In The News

Jan: An open source alternative to ChatGPT that runs on the desktop
Jan | Rethink the Computer. Jan turns your computer into an AI machine by running LLMs locally on your computer. It’s a privacy-focus, l...
jan.ai
#desktop#chatgpt
4 5652 4
New
AstonJ
AI>Chat

How to: Run DeepSeek on Mac, Windows, and Linux!
This is a very quick guide, you just need to: Download LM Studio: https://lmstudio.ai/ Click on search Type DeepSeek, then select the o...
#macs/deepseek#guides#lm-studio
14 9328 10
New
xiji2646-netizen
AI>Chat

Claude Code's entire source just leaked (512K lines) - anyone else digging through it?
Woke up to this today: Claude Code’s complete source code exposed via npm source map. Not a snippet. All 512,000 lines. 1,900 TypeScript ...
#claude
1 5903 4
New
Back to top

Sponsor Spotlight

WyewWorks

Enabling companies to succeed by building software people love.

Latest in Java

Java Portal ❯

Backend>Questions

Backend Questions ❯

Latest on Devtalk

Devtalk ❯

We ❤️ helpful members!

We reward our most helpful members via our MOTM scheme - by giving away a whopping 25 books per year!

Member of the Month

Devtalk Sponsors

Pragmatic Bookshelf

Practical resources that improve the lives of professional developers.

Erlang Solutions

We build trusted fault-tolerant systems that scale to billions of users.

Honeybadger

Real-time error tracking, performance insights, and observability for devs.

EEF

Supporting innovation across the BEAM ecosystem.

coders51

We build reliable cloud platforms for business-critical systems.

Manning Publications

Develop your skills with books, videos, and courses.

AppSignal

Catch errors, track performance, monitor hosts and more.

WyeWorks

Enabling companies to succeed by building software people love.

Pragmatic Studio

Courses that move you from confusion to "Aha, now I get it!"

Linux New Media

Publishing Linux Magazine, ADMIN, and MakerSpace for 25+ years.

View all our sponsors ❯

Categories:

Sub Categories:

Popular Portals

Devtalk Sponsors

Pragmatic Bookshelf

Practical resources that improve the lives of professional developers.

Erlang Solutions

We build trusted fault-tolerant systems that scale to billions of users.

Honeybadger

Real-time error tracking, performance insights, and observability for devs.

EEF

Supporting innovation across the BEAM ecosystem.

coders51

We build reliable cloud platforms for business-critical systems.

Manning Publications

Develop your skills with books, videos, and courses.

AppSignal

Catch errors, track performance, monitor hosts and more.

WyeWorks

Enabling companies to succeed by building software people love.

Pragmatic Studio

Courses that move you from confusion to "Aha, now I get it!"

Linux New Media

Publishing Linux Magazine, ADMIN, and MakerSpace for 25+ years.

View all our sponsors ❯

We're in Beta

About us Mission Statement See our Roadmap