Question

I have compareObjects method implemented as below

public static int compareObjects(Comparable a, Comparable b){

        if (a == null && b == null){
            return 0;
        } else if (a == null && b != null){
            return -1;
        } else if (a != null && b == null){
            return 1;
        } else {
            return a.compareTo(b);
        }
    }

When I run this through findBugs, I get this suggestion on the line return a.compareTo(b):

There is a branch of statement that, if executed, guarantees that a null value will be dereferenced, which would generate a NullPointerException when the code is executed. Of course, the problem might be that the branch or statement is infeasible and that the null pointer exception can’t ever be executed; deciding that is beyond the ability of FindBugs. Due to the fact that this value had been previously tested for nullness, this is a definite possibility.

At this point a can never be null. Why does FindBugs show me this suggestion? How can I correct this; what is the correct way to implement compareObjects()?

Answer 1

I think it might be because you don’t need the extra && statements. After the first if statement you already know that one of them is null.

public static int compareObjects(Comparable a, Comparable b){

    if (a == null && b == null){
        return 0;
    } else if (a == null){
        return -1;
    } else if (b == null){
        return 1;
    } else {
        return a.compareTo(b);
    }
}