Question

I saw this answer of how to join String[] to comma separated string.

However I need the util to join the string in the array only if the values are not empty.

What is the best way to do it? without looping before on the String[] to remove. I prefer one method that does both.

EDITED

for instance:

I, love, , u

will be:

 I love u

Answer 1

public class So20111214a {
    public static String join(String[] argStrings) {
        if (argStrings == null) {
            return "";
        }
        String ret = "";
        if (argStrings.length > 0) {
            ret = argStrings[0];
        } // if
        for (int i = 1; i<argStrings.length; i++) {
            ret += (argStrings[i] == null) 
                    ? "" 
                    : (argStrings[i].isEmpty() 
                        ? "" 
                        :  ( "," + argStrings[i] ) );
        } // for
        return ret;
    } // join() method

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String[] grandmasters = {  
            "Emanuel Lasker", 
            "José Raúl Capablanca", 
            "Alexander Alekhine", 
            "Siegbert Tarrasch", 
            "Frank Marshall"  
        };
        String[] s1 = null;
        String[] s2 = {};
        String[] s3 = { "Mikhail Botvinnik" };
        System.out.println(join(s1));
        System.out.println(join(s2));
        System.out.println(join(s3));
        System.out.println(join(grandmasters));
        System.out.println(join(new String[]{"I", "love", "", null, "u!"}));
    } // main() method

    /* output:
    <empty string>
    <empty string>
    Mikhail Botvinnik
    Emanuel Lasker,José Raúl Capablanca,Alexander Alekhine,Siegbert Tarrasch,Frank Marshall
    I,love,u!
    */

} // So20111214a class

PS: Sorry for using the ? operator – I had to do it quickly, I am at work. 🙂