Trying to find a true condition for an empty record

Question

OK. Im reading all the objects from an arraylist and grabbing thier names.

            for(Contractor o : fa.allValues){
                System.out.println(o.getName());
            }

This returns

Bobs Tools
                //The problem
Ic Remodeling
Fred and Nobby
Dogs With Tools
Dogs With Tools
Bitter Homes and Gardens
Etc etc

Now....when i create and add an object, i want to put the new object in any empty spaces that it finds. It should find an empty space when it comes to the 2nd record.

However........

String str = allValues.get(1).getName(); // where 1 is the location of the empty record

all the following returns false

System.out.println(str == "");
System.out.println(str == " ");
System.out.println(str == null);

I want to input a condition that returns true. What basic issue have i over looked here?

Don't compare strings with `==`, use `equals()` instead: `if (str.equals(""))` — Jesper, Jan 20 '14 at 13:36

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 20 '14 at 13:37

2

use equals for testing equality of string and not ==

answered Jan 20 '14 at 13:37

Eugene

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 20 '14 at 13:37

1

Your equality for an empty string is wrong. In java you should compare it using the equals-method.

I would recommend using the apache commons lang StringUtils.isEmpty() method.

answered Jan 20 '14 at 13:37

Kurt Du Bois

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I knew that, forgot that, and now know that again. Ta! – ragingbull Jan 20 '14 at 13:39

Trying to find a true condition for an empty record

2 Answers2