How to Check Null in Java

Use “=” to define a variable., Use “==” to check a variable’s value., Use an “if” statement to create a condition for the null., Use null as an unknown value., Use null as a condition for ending a process., Use null to indicate an uninitiated state.

6 Steps 2 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Use “=” to define a variable.

    A single “=” is used to declare a variable and assign a value to it.

    You can use this to set a variable to null.

    A value of “0” and null are not the same and will behave differently. variableName = null;
  2. Step 2: Use “==” to check a variable’s value.

    A “==” is used to check that the two values on either side are equal.

    If you set a variable to null with “=” then checking that the variable is equal to null would return true. variableName == null; You can also use “!=” to check that a value is NOT equal. , The result of the expression will be a boolean (true or false) value.

    You can use the boolean value as a condition for what the statement does next.

    For example, if the value is null, then print text “object is null”.

    If “==” does not find the variable to be null, then it will skip the condition or can take a different path. , It is common to use null as a default in lieu of any assigned value. string() means the value is null until it is actually used. , Returning a null value can be used to trigger the end of a loop or break a process.

    This is more commonly used to throw an error or exception when something has gone wrong or an undesired condition has been hit. , Similarly, null can be used as flag to show that a process has not yet started or as a condition to mark to be beginning of a process.

    For example: do something while object is null or do nothing until an object is NOT null.
  3. Step 3: Use an “if” statement to create a condition for the null.

  4. Step 4: Use null as an unknown value.

  5. Step 5: Use null as a condition for ending a process.

  6. Step 6: Use null to indicate an uninitiated state.

Detailed Guide

A single “=” is used to declare a variable and assign a value to it.

You can use this to set a variable to null.

A value of “0” and null are not the same and will behave differently. variableName = null;

A “==” is used to check that the two values on either side are equal.

If you set a variable to null with “=” then checking that the variable is equal to null would return true. variableName == null; You can also use “!=” to check that a value is NOT equal. , The result of the expression will be a boolean (true or false) value.

You can use the boolean value as a condition for what the statement does next.

For example, if the value is null, then print text “object is null”.

If “==” does not find the variable to be null, then it will skip the condition or can take a different path. , It is common to use null as a default in lieu of any assigned value. string() means the value is null until it is actually used. , Returning a null value can be used to trigger the end of a loop or break a process.

This is more commonly used to throw an error or exception when something has gone wrong or an undesired condition has been hit. , Similarly, null can be used as flag to show that a process has not yet started or as a condition to mark to be beginning of a process.

For example: do something while object is null or do nothing until an object is NOT null.

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Madison Perry

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