Thread: 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?

One of the primary tenets of any good programmer is to program defensively.

To than end, we should avoid NullPointerException and using the equals method on a constant is a excellent way to achieve that. There is no shame in using it. After all, it is just a string whose value doesn't change.

The Duke!