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javastringnullnull-check

Java string null check by != null or !str.equals(null)?


What's the best way to check for not null values in java.

String query ="abcd";

query != null vs !query.equals(null).

which is better?why?


Solution

  • 1st one is better (and the only option), because 2nd one will throw NPE, when your value is actually null. As simple as that.

    Try this out:

    String str = null;
    str.equals(null);  // will throw `NPE`.
    

    So basically, the test which you wanted to perform itself triggers a NullPointerException in the 2nd case. So, it is no choice.