STUDYECRAT Java : Optional Class
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Java Optional Class
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★ Java 8 Optional: Key Interview Points
1. Safely Handle Null Values
Optional<String> name = Optional.ofNullable(getNameFromDB());
System.out.println(name.orElse("Default"));
// Uses ofNullable() to avoid NPE if getNameFromDB() returns null
System.out.println(name.orElse("Default"));
// Uses ofNullable() to avoid NPE if getNameFromDB() returns null
- Tip: Always use
ofNullable()
for uncertain data sources (APIs/DB). - Real Use: Wrapping JPA repository results to prevent null checks in service layers.
2. Chain Transformations Cleanly
Optional<String> opt = Optional.of(" java ");
String result = opt.map(String::trim)
.map(String::toUpperCase)
.orElse("DEFAULT");
// Chained transformations without null checks
String result = opt.map(String::trim)
.map(String::toUpperCase)
.orElse("DEFAULT");
// Chained transformations without null checks
- Tip: Prefer
map()
over nestedif-else
for readability. - Real Use: Processing API responses (e.g., trimming/formatting strings).
3. Fail Fast with orElseThrow()
Optional<User> user = findUserById(123);
User validated = user.orElseThrow(() ->
new UserNotFoundException("ID not found"));
// Throws custom exception if Optional is empty
User validated = user.orElseThrow(() ->
new UserNotFoundException("ID not found"));
// Throws custom exception if Optional is empty
- Tip: Use lambda-supplied exceptions for lazy initialization.
- Real Use: Validating mandatory fields in REST API requests.
4. Side-Effect-Free Operations
Optional<Integer> price = Optional.of(100);
price.ifPresent(p -> System.out.println("Total: $" + p * 1.1));
// Executes only if value exists (no side effects)
price.ifPresent(p -> System.out.println("Total: $" + p * 1.1));
// Executes only if value exists (no side effects)
- Tip: Avoid using
get()
directly—it’s unsafe. - Real Use: Logging or sending notifications for non-null values.
5. Flatten Nested Optionals
Optional<Optional<String>> nested = Optional.of(Optional.of("Java"));
String result = nested.flatMap(Function.identity())
.orElse("None");
// flatMap() removes nested Optional layers
String result = nested.flatMap(Function.identity())
.orElse("None");
// flatMap() removes nested Optional layers
- Tip: Use
flatMap()
when dealing with methods returning Optional. - Real Use: Chaining repository calls (e.g.,
findUser().flatMap(User::getAddress)
).
💡 Pro Interview Tip
Always prefer Optional
over null in method returns. Interviewers often judge candidates on their ability to prevent NullPointerException
defensively. Example: Return Optional.empty()
instead of null for "not found" scenarios.