Java Optional — Free Java Tutorial

TL;DR: Learn Java Optional in Java with a free, beginner-friendly tutorial, examples and practice for Indian students on Syllab.in.

Java Optional in Java

Optional<T> (java.util.Optional) is a container that may or may not hold a non-null value. It was introduced in Java 8 to make null-handling explicit and reduce NullPointerExceptions.

Create with: Optional.of(value) (throws NPE if null), Optional.ofNullable(value) (safe, accepts null), Optional.empty() (no value).

Key methods: isPresent(), isEmpty() (Java 11+), get() (throws if empty), orElse(default), orElseGet(supplier), orElseThrow(), ifPresent(consumer), map(), filter().

Optional is best used as a return type for methods that might not find a result — never use it as a field type or method parameter.

Optional<String> opt = Optional.ofNullable(getValue());

opt.isPresent()               // true if value exists
opt.get()                     // get value (throws if empty)
opt.orElse("default")         // value or default
opt.orElseGet(() -> compute()) // value or lazy default
opt.orElseThrow()             // value or NoSuchElementException
opt.ifPresent(v -> use(v))    // run if present
opt.map(String::toUpperCase)  // transform if present

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