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

GermaVinsmoke
Backend>Questions

Programming Elixir or Elixir in Action?
Reading Programming Elixir 1.6 book, I’ve completed part 1 of the book. Now I’m thinking of reading Elixir in Action. What do you all sug...
/elixir
34 2021 8
New
Jsdr3398
Backend>Questions

Gathering team members for my project?
I’ve been working on and rewriting my messaging platform several times for the past two years. With Discords new rebranding, it has reall...
/elixir
22 1393 7
New
TwistingTwists
Backend>Questions

Novice developer hoping to learn Elixir - any tips?
Hello Folks, I am a novice developer from India. Intending to learn Elixir and web apps (phoenix framework). What are things that I MUS...
/elixir#beginner#suggestion
53 1792 14
New
sampu
Backend>Questions

Keep Alive data packets configuration with Spring Webflux endpoint
I have a use case where a client is invoking a Rest endpoint via a load balancer, which in turn invokes a third party endpoint which is r...
#keep-alive
5 2017 1
New
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

Dialyzer does not catch errors on returned functions
Background While playing around with dialyzer, typespecs and currying, I was able to create an example of a false positive in dialyzer. ...
/elixir
13 1368 6
New
osbre
Backend>Questions

Is there a specification or recommendations on implementing “one-time authentication” link?
Hello everyone I’m trying to implement a “magic link” or “one-time login link” functionality I wonder what a secure way to implement it...
#help-needed
9 1124 2
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
sona11
Backend>Questions

Next steps after learning the basics of php?
I studied very basic PHP (I believe). After that, I feel like I’ve gotten a handle on the language. My dream is to work as a web develope...
/php#web
9 1172 2
New
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

Gradient does not recognize type of TypedStruct structures
Background I have a module that uses TypedStruct to create structs. This is the code: defmodule Shared.Data.Authorization do @moduledo...
/elixir#gradient#struct
6 1064 2
New
yamuna
Backend>Questions

How to run Ollama deepseek-coder:6.7b-instruct-q4_K_M in Docker for CrewAI Agents?
Hi everyone, I’m trying to run deepseek-coder:6.7b-instruct-q4_K_M in Docker using Ollama to create an LLM that will be used by CrewAI a...
#docker/deepseek#ollama
0 2871 0
New

Other popular topics Top

Devtalk
General Dev>Dev Chat

HELLO WORLD (Introductions thread!)
Hello Devtalk World! Please let us know a little about who you are and where you’re from :nerd_face:
#community
482 7161 117
New
PragmaticBookshelf
General Dev>Learning Resources

A Common-Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms, Second Edition
Algorithms and data structures are much more than abstract concepts. Mastering them enables you to write code that runs faster and more e...
pragprog.com
#pragprog/python/ruby#published-book/book-a-common-sense-guide-to-data-structures-and-algorithms-second-edition#math#algorithms/js
19 6022 5
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Game Dev>Learning Resources

The Ray Tracer Challenge
Brace yourself for a fun challenge: build a photorealistic 3D renderer from scratch! In just a couple of weeks, build a ray tracer that r...
pragprog.com
#pragprog#published-book/book-the-ray-tracer-challenge#algorithms
3 6115 0
New
AstonJ
Backend>Chat

How to install Ruby 3 with ASDF
In case anyone else is wondering why Ruby 3 doesn’t show when you do asdf list-all ruby :man_facepalming: do this first: asdf plugin-upd...
/ruby#asdf
11 5961 4
New
AstonJ
General Dev>Dev Chat

Languages Without Garbage Collection
Continuing the discussion from Thinking about learning Crystal, let’s discuss - I was wondering which languages don’t GC - maybe we can c...
#garbage-collection
21 5575 7
New
Margaret
General Dev>Dev Chat

PragProg’s Medium Posts
Hello everyone! This thread is to tell you about what authors from The Pragmatic Bookshelf are writing on Medium.
#pragprog#blog-post
1147 29994 760
New
Maartz
General Dev>Dev Chat

Roc Language - a new purely functional programming language built for speed and ergonomics
Hi folks, I don’t know if I saw this here but, here’s a new programming language, called Roc Reminds me a bit of Elm and thus Haskell. ...
#programminguages#functional-programming
49 5164 14
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Community>In The Spotlight

Spotlight: Erin Dees (Author) Interview and AMA!
Author Spotlight Erin Dees @undees Welcome to our new author spotlight! We had the pleasure of chatting with Erin Dees, co-author of ...
#author-spotlight/ruby/rails/book-effective-testing-with-rspec-3/book-seven-more-languages-in-seven-weeks/book-cucumber-recipes#rspec
24 4247 11
New
RobertRichards
Game Dev>Chat

Hair Salon Games for Girls Fun
Hair Salon Games for Girls Fun Girls Hair Saloon game is mainly developed for kids. This game allows users to select virtual avatars to ...
#ios#android#unity#fun
2 3556 1
New
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
AI>Questions

What are the best text-to-speech ai generation tools that you can run locally?
Background Lately I am in a quest to find a good quality TTS ai generation tool to run locally in order to create audio for some videos I...
#ai#text-to-speech
6 8411 3
New
Back to top

Sponsor Spotlight

AppSignal

Catch errors, track performance, monitor hosts and more.

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