Top Description Fields Constructors Methods
java.util

public final Class Optional<T>

extends Object
Class Inheritance
Annotations
@ValueBased
Type Parameters
<T>
the type of value
Imports
java.util.function.Consumer, .Function, .Predicate, .Supplier, java.util.stream.Stream

A container object which may or may not contain a non-null value. If a value is present, isPresent() returns true. If no value is present, the object is considered empty and isPresent() returns false.

Additional methods that depend on the presence or absence of a contained value are provided, such as orElse() (returns a default value if no value is present) and ifPresent() (performs an action if a value is present).

This is a value-based class; programmers should treat instances that are equal as interchangeable and should not use instances for synchronization, or unpredictable behavior may occur. For example, in a future release, synchronization may fail.

API Note

Optional is primarily intended for use as a method return type where there is a clear need to represent "no result," and where using null is likely to cause errors. A variable whose type is Optional should never itself be null; it should always point to an Optional instance.

Since
1.8

Field Summary

Modifier and TypeField and Description
private static final Optional<?>
EMPTY

Common instance for empty().

private final T
value

If non-null, the value; if null, indicates no value is present

Constructor Summary

AccessConstructor and Description
private
Optional(T
the value to describe; it's the caller's responsibility to ensure the value is non-null unless creating the singleton instance returned by empty().
value
)

Constructs an instance with the described value.

Method Summary

Modifier and TypeMethod and Description
public static <
The type of the non-existent value
T
>
Optional<T>

Returns:

an empty Optional
empty
()

Returns an empty Optional instance.

public boolean

Returns:

true if the other object is "equal to" this object otherwise false
equals
(Object
an object to be tested for equality
obj
)

Overrides java.lang.Object.equals.

Indicates whether some other object is "equal to" this Optional.

public Optional<T>

Returns:

an Optional describing the value of this Optional, if a value is present and the value matches the given predicate, otherwise an empty Optional
filter
(Predicate<? super T>
the predicate to apply to a value, if present
predicate
)

If a value is present, and the value matches the given predicate, returns an Optional describing the value, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

public <
The type of value of the Optional returned by the mapping function
U
>
Optional<U>

Returns:

the result of applying an Optional-bearing mapping function to the value of this Optional, if a value is present, otherwise an empty Optional
flatMap
(Function<? super T, ? extends Optional<? extends U>>
the mapping function to apply to a value, if present
mapper
)

If a value is present, returns the result of applying the given Optional-bearing mapping function to the value, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

public T

Returns:

the non-null value described by this Optional
get
()

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise throws NoSuchElementException.

public int

Returns:

hash code value of the present value or 0 if no value is present
hashCode
()

Overrides java.lang.Object.hashCode.

Returns the hash code of the value, if present, otherwise 0 (zero) if no value is present.

public void
ifPresent(Consumer<? super T>
the action to be performed, if a value is present
action
)

If a value is present, performs the given action with the value, otherwise does nothing.

public void
ifPresentOrElse(Consumer<? super T>
the action to be performed, if a value is present
action
,
Runnable
the empty-based action to be performed, if no value is present
emptyAction
)

If a value is present, performs the given action with the value, otherwise performs the given empty-based action.

public boolean

Returns:

true if a value is not present, otherwise false
isEmpty
()

If a value is not present, returns true, otherwise false.

public boolean

Returns:

true if a value is present, otherwise false
isPresent
()

If a value is present, returns true, otherwise false.

public <
The type of the value returned from the mapping function
U
>
Optional<U>

Returns:

an Optional describing the result of applying a mapping function to the value of this Optional, if a value is present, otherwise an empty Optional
map
(Function<? super T, ? extends U>
the mapping function to apply to a value, if present
mapper
)

If a value is present, returns an Optional describing (as if by ofNullable) the result of applying the given mapping function to the value, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

public static <
the type of the value
T
>
Optional<T>

Returns:

an Optional with the value present
of
(T
the value to describe, which must be non-null
value
)

Returns an Optional describing the given non-null value.

public static <
the type of the value
T
>
Optional<T>

Returns:

an Optional with a present value if the specified value is non-null, otherwise an empty Optional
ofNullable
(T
the possibly-null value to describe
value
)

Returns an Optional describing the given value, if non-null, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

public Optional<T>

Returns:

returns an Optional describing the value of this Optional, if a value is present, otherwise an Optional produced by the supplying function.
or
(Supplier<? extends Optional<? extends T>>
the supplying function that produces an Optional to be returned
supplier
)

If a value is present, returns an Optional describing the value, otherwise returns an Optional produced by the supplying function.

public T

Returns:

the value, if present, otherwise other
orElse
(T
the value to be returned, if no value is present. May be null.
other
)

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise returns other.

public T

Returns:

the value, if present, otherwise the result produced by the supplying function
orElseGet
(Supplier<? extends T>
the supplying function that produces a value to be returned
supplier
)

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise returns the result produced by the supplying function.

public T

Returns:

the non-null value described by this Optional
orElseThrow
()

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise throws NoSuchElementException.

public <
Type of the exception to be thrown
X extends Throwable
>
T

Returns:

the value, if present
orElseThrow
(Supplier<? extends X>
the supplying function that produces an exception to be thrown
exceptionSupplier
)

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise throws an exception produced by the exception supplying function.

public Stream<T>

Returns:

the optional value as a Stream
stream
()

If a value is present, returns a sequential Stream containing only that value, otherwise returns an empty Stream.

public String

Returns:

the string representation of this instance
toString
()

Overrides java.lang.Object.toString.

Returns a non-empty string representation of this Optional suitable for debugging.

Inherited from java.lang.Object:
clonefinalizegetClassnotifynotifyAllwaitwaitwait

Field Detail

EMPTYback to summary
private static final Optional<?> EMPTY

Common instance for empty().

valueback to summary
private final T value

If non-null, the value; if null, indicates no value is present

Constructor Detail

Optionalback to summary
private Optional(T value)

Constructs an instance with the described value.

Parameters
value:T

the value to describe; it's the caller's responsibility to ensure the value is non-null unless creating the singleton instance returned by empty().

Method Detail

emptyback to summary
public static <T> Optional<T> empty()

Returns an empty Optional instance. No value is present for this Optional.

API Note

Though it may be tempting to do so, avoid testing if an object is empty by comparing with == or != against instances returned by Optional.empty(). There is no guarantee that it is a singleton. Instead, use isEmpty() or isPresent().

Parameters
<T>
The type of the non-existent value
Returns:Optional<T>

an empty Optional

equalsback to summary
public boolean equals(Object obj)

Overrides java.lang.Object.equals.

Indicates whether some other object is "equal to" this Optional. The other object is considered equal if:

  • it is also an Optional and;
  • both instances have no value present or;
  • the present values are "equal to" each other via equals().
Parameters
obj:Object

an object to be tested for equality

Returns:boolean

true if the other object is "equal to" this object otherwise false

Annotations
@Override
filterback to summary
public Optional<T> filter(Predicate<? super T> predicate)

If a value is present, and the value matches the given predicate, returns an Optional describing the value, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

Parameters
predicate:Predicate<? super T>

the predicate to apply to a value, if present

Returns:Optional<T>

an Optional describing the value of this Optional, if a value is present and the value matches the given predicate, otherwise an empty Optional

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if the predicate is null
flatMapback to summary
public <U> Optional<U> flatMap(Function<? super T, ? extends Optional<? extends U>> mapper)

If a value is present, returns the result of applying the given Optional-bearing mapping function to the value, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

This method is similar to map(Function), but the mapping function is one whose result is already an Optional, and if invoked, flatMap does not wrap it within an additional Optional.

Parameters
<U>
The type of value of the Optional returned by the mapping function
mapper:Function<? super T, ? extends Optional<? extends U>>

the mapping function to apply to a value, if present

Returns:Optional<U>

the result of applying an Optional-bearing mapping function to the value of this Optional, if a value is present, otherwise an empty Optional

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if the mapping function is null or returns a null result
getback to summary
public T get()

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise throws NoSuchElementException.

API Note

The preferred alternative to this method is orElseThrow().

Returns:T

the non-null value described by this Optional

Exceptions
NoSuchElementException:
if no value is present
hashCodeback to summary
public int hashCode()

Overrides java.lang.Object.hashCode.

Returns the hash code of the value, if present, otherwise 0 (zero) if no value is present.

Returns:int

hash code value of the present value or 0 if no value is present

Annotations
@Override
ifPresentback to summary
public void ifPresent(Consumer<? super T> action)

If a value is present, performs the given action with the value, otherwise does nothing.

Parameters
action:Consumer<? super T>

the action to be performed, if a value is present

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if value is present and the given action is null
ifPresentOrElseback to summary
public void ifPresentOrElse(Consumer<? super T> action, Runnable emptyAction)

If a value is present, performs the given action with the value, otherwise performs the given empty-based action.

Parameters
action:Consumer<? super T>

the action to be performed, if a value is present

emptyAction:Runnable

the empty-based action to be performed, if no value is present

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if a value is present and the given action is null, or no value is present and the given empty-based action is null.
Since
9
isEmptyback to summary
public boolean isEmpty()

If a value is not present, returns true, otherwise false.

Returns:boolean

true if a value is not present, otherwise false

Since
11
isPresentback to summary
public boolean isPresent()

If a value is present, returns true, otherwise false.

Returns:boolean

true if a value is present, otherwise false

mapback to summary
public <U> Optional<U> map(Function<? super T, ? extends U> mapper)

If a value is present, returns an Optional describing (as if by ofNullable) the result of applying the given mapping function to the value, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

If the mapping function returns a null result then this method returns an empty Optional.

API Note

This method supports post-processing on Optional values, without the need to explicitly check for a return status. For example, the following code traverses a stream of URIs, selects one that has not yet been processed, and creates a path from that URI, returning an Optional<Path>:

Optional<Path> p =
        uris.stream().filter(uri -> !isProcessedYet(uri))
                      .findFirst()
                      .map(Paths::get);
Here, findFirst returns an Optional<URI>, and then map returns an Optional<Path> for the desired URI if one exists.
Parameters
<U>
The type of the value returned from the mapping function
mapper:Function<? super T, ? extends U>

the mapping function to apply to a value, if present

Returns:Optional<U>

an Optional describing the result of applying a mapping function to the value of this Optional, if a value is present, otherwise an empty Optional

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if the mapping function is null
ofback to summary
public static <T> Optional<T> of(T value)

Returns an Optional describing the given non-null value.

Parameters
<T>
the type of the value
value:T

the value to describe, which must be non-null

Returns:Optional<T>

an Optional with the value present

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if value is null
ofNullableback to summary
public static <T> Optional<T> ofNullable(T value)

Returns an Optional describing the given value, if non-null, otherwise returns an empty Optional.

Parameters
<T>
the type of the value
value:T

the possibly-null value to describe

Returns:Optional<T>

an Optional with a present value if the specified value is non-null, otherwise an empty Optional

Annotations
@SuppressWarnings:unchecked
orback to summary
public Optional<T> or(Supplier<? extends Optional<? extends T>> supplier)

If a value is present, returns an Optional describing the value, otherwise returns an Optional produced by the supplying function.

Parameters
supplier:Supplier<? extends Optional<? extends T>>

the supplying function that produces an Optional to be returned

Returns:Optional<T>

returns an Optional describing the value of this Optional, if a value is present, otherwise an Optional produced by the supplying function.

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if the supplying function is null or produces a null result
Since
9
orElseback to summary
public T orElse(T other)

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise returns other.

Parameters
other:T

the value to be returned, if no value is present. May be null.

Returns:T

the value, if present, otherwise other

orElseGetback to summary
public T orElseGet(Supplier<? extends T> supplier)

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise returns the result produced by the supplying function.

Parameters
supplier:Supplier<? extends T>

the supplying function that produces a value to be returned

Returns:T

the value, if present, otherwise the result produced by the supplying function

Exceptions
NullPointerException:
if no value is present and the supplying function is null
orElseThrowback to summary
public T orElseThrow()

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise throws NoSuchElementException.

Returns:T

the non-null value described by this Optional

Exceptions
NoSuchElementException:
if no value is present
Since
10
orElseThrowback to summary
public <X extends Throwable> T orElseThrow(Supplier<? extends X> exceptionSupplier) throws Supplier-:X

If a value is present, returns the value, otherwise throws an exception produced by the exception supplying function.

API Note

A method reference to the exception constructor with an empty argument list can be used as the supplier. For example, IllegalStateException::new

Parameters
<X>
Type of the exception to be thrown
exceptionSupplier:Supplier<? extends X>

the supplying function that produces an exception to be thrown

Returns:T

the value, if present

Exceptions
Supplier-:X:
if no value is present
NullPointerException:
if no value is present and the exception supplying function is null
streamback to summary
public Stream<T> stream()

If a value is present, returns a sequential Stream containing only that value, otherwise returns an empty Stream.

API Note

This method can be used to transform a Stream of optional elements to a Stream of present value elements:

Stream<Optional<T>> os = ..
    Stream<T> s = os.flatMap(Optional::stream)
Returns:Stream<T>

the optional value as a Stream

Since
9
toStringback to summary
public String toString()

Overrides java.lang.Object.toString.

Returns a non-empty string representation of this Optional suitable for debugging. The exact presentation format is unspecified and may vary between implementations and versions.

Implementation Specification

If a value is present the result must include its string representation in the result. Empty and present Optionals must be unambiguously differentiable.

Returns:String

the string representation of this instance

Annotations
@Override