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

dimitarvp
Backend>Questions

Give me your quickest Kubernetes guides, please
As a part of my new job I’ll have to learn to manage a local k8s cluster. The tools used are microk8s, tilt and helm. I’ll appreciate an...
#kubernetes
25 1166 10
New
pillaiindu
Backend>Questions

Do you recommend AWS Amplify for a small scale Uber clone?
Cross posting from HashNode. A friend of mine is creating Uber-like app for a small company with 200 to 1000 cars. The app will operate ...
#aws-amplify
13 1803 6
New
Rainer
Backend>Questions

Any good learning resources for Rust for experienced programmers?
Is there somewhere a good introduction to rust for experienced programmers (with years of C++/C#/Java experience)? Wanted to give it a t...
/rust
26 1375 6
New
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
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
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
Fl4m3Ph03n1x
Backend>Questions

Is there a way to have Elixir Records without default values?
Background I am trying to find a cheap and easy way to create New Types in Elixir, and Records seem to be just what I would need. Probl...
/elixir
10 1230 2
New
jeya
Backend>Questions

Pytest: test fails while getting URL
Dear Geeks I am new to pytest. I am following a youtube channel. I am writing the same code. learning to test login functionality of an...
/python#pytest
23 1835 12
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

Other popular topics Top

PragmaticBookshelf
General Dev>Learning Resources

Forge Your Future with Open Source
Free and open source software is the default choice for the technologies that run our world, and it’s built and maintained by people like...
pragprog.com
#pragprog#published-book/book-forge-your-future-with-open-source
3 5654 0
New
siddhant3030
General Dev>Dev Chat

Which vertical monitor do you use?
I’m thinking of buying a monitor that I can rotate to use as a vertical monitor? Also, I want to know if someone is using it for program...
#monitors#programming
51 4892 20
New
DevotionGeo
General Dev>Code Editors

Dendron: a personal knowledge management tool on top of VSCode
/vscode#visual-studio-code
30 7372 9
New
AstonJ
Backend>Questions

Erlang's not installing on macOS Big Sur "You are natively building Erlang/OTP for a later version of MacOSX than current version"
Just done a fresh install of macOS Big Sur and on installing Erlang I am getting: asdf install erlang 23.1.2 Configure failed. checking ...
#macos/erlang#big-sur#asdf
10 6212 8
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
AstonJ
General Dev>Code Editors

Doom-Emacs: Can't find emacs in your PATH
If you get Can't find emacs in your PATH when trying to install Doom Emacs on your Mac you… just… need to install Emacs first! :lol: bre...
#macos/emacs#doom-emacs
4 5837 0
New
hilfordjames
Windows>Chat

Taskbar Overflow Menu (NOT System Tray Overflow)
There appears to have been an update that has changed the terminology for what has previously been known as the Taskbar Overflow - this h...
#taskbar-overflow-win-11
3 3715 2
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Backend>Learning Resources

Agile Web Development with Rails 8
Get the comprehensive, insider information you need for Rails 8 with the new edition of this award-winning classic. Sam Ruby @rubys ...
pragprog.com
#pragprog#web-development/ruby/rails#published-book/book-agile-web-development-with-rails-8
12 7404 7
New
PragmaticBookshelf
Backend>Learning Resources

MySQL 9 Essentials
A concise guide to MySQL 9 database administration, covering fundamental concepts, techniques, and best practices. Neil Smyth MySQL...
pragprog.com
#pragprog#published-book/mysql/book-mysql-9-essentials
2 4162 0
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

Manning

Develop your skills with books, videos, and courses.

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