Java 8 has introduced a new class Optional in java.util package. It is used to represent a value is present or absent. The main advantage of this new construct is that No more too many null checks and NullPointerException. It avoids any runtime NullPointerExceptions and supports us in developing clean and neat Java APIs or Applications. Like Collections and arrays, it is also a Container to hold at most one value. Let us explore this new construct with some useful examples.

Advantages of Java 8 Optional:

1. Null checks are not required.
2. No more NullPointerException at run-time.
3. We can develop clean and neat APIs.

 

1. Optional Basic example

Optional.ofNullable() method returns a Non-empty Optional if a value present in the given object. Otherwise returns empty Optional.

Optionaal.empty() method is useful to create an empty Optional object.