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

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
gagan7995
Backend>Questions

Please tell me how to write a query for this in nodejs
API 4 Path: /user/following/ Method: GET Description: Returns the list of all names of people whom the user follows Response [ { ...
/nodejs
7 3447 3
New
s2k
Backend>Questions

An ERB/bundler behaviour I don't understand
I have this code in a file that’s used to … render templates. require 'erb' require 'ostruct' MISSING_CONFIG_MARKER = :config_key_and_v...
/ruby
11 1405 4
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
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

How to have custom enconding for struct using Jason?
Background I am trying to encode a structure into json format using the Jason library. However, this is not working as expected. Code L...
/elixir#json
6 2879 1
New
JimmyCarterSon
Backend>Questions

Seed Data with Elixir
Hello, I am working on a new application with Elixir, Dish_out. I want to see Data I follow this tutorial with Elixir Casts. However, I ...
/elixir/phoenix/seed#ecto#trouble-shooting
17 2340 6
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
harwind
Backend>Questions

Selection Sort Program In C
I received this error for a binary search programme in C, despite the fact that it requested for inputs and produced the right output. Th...
/c
1 881 0
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
KnowledgeIsPower
Backend>Questions

Do your company uses microservices?
Is it monolithic or using micro-services?
#backend
5 776 3
New

Other popular topics Top

DevotionGeo
Backend>Questions

Can someone explain the -t option/flag in docker run command?
I know that -t flag is used along with -i flag for getting an interactive shell. But I cannot digest what the man page for docker run com...
#docker
7 10261 2
New
AstonJ
General Dev>Dev Chat

How fast do you type? Check your WPM here!
Do the test and post your score :nerd_face: :keyboard: If possible, please add info such as the keyboard you’re using, the layout (Qw...
typing-speed-test.aoeu.eu
/keyboards
82 7682 31
New
rustkas
Backend>Chat

Using Regular Expressions in Erlang
Intensively researching Erlang books and additional resources on it, I have found that the topic of using Regular Expressions is either c...
/erlang#regular-expressions
91 5662 43
New
foxtrottwist
General Dev>Dev Chat

Warp—The blazingly fast, Rust-based terminal
A few weeks ago I started using Warp a terminal written in rust. Though in it’s current state of development there are a few caveats (tab...
/rust#terminal
52 6785 22
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
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
Community>In The Spotlight

Spotlight: Bruce Tate (Author) Interview and AMA!
Author Spotlight: Bruce Tate @redrapids Programming languages always emerge out of need, and if that’s not always true, they’re defin...
/elixir/ruby/phoenix/book-seven-more-languages-in-seven-weeks/book-seven-languages-in-seven-weeks#liveview/book-programming-phoenix-liveview
54 5678 23
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
NewsBot
Backend>Official News

Node.js v22.14.0 released!
Node.js v22.14.0 has been released. Link: Release 2025-02-11, Version 22.14.0 'Jod' (LTS), @aduh95 · nodejs/node · GitHub
github.com
/nodejs#official-news
0 4251 0
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Backend>Learning Resources

Advanced Functional Programming with Elixir
Use advanced functional programming principles, practical Domain-Driven Design techniques, and production-ready Elixir code to build scal...
joekoski.com
#pragprog/elixir#published-book#functional-programming/book-advanced-functional-programming-with-elixir
43 4989 22
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