Question

Which is the better practice between Boolean.valueOf() and Java 1.5 autoboxing to create Boolean from booleans and why ?

Answer 1

Autoboxing of boolean is transparently translated to Boolean.valueOf() by the compiler:

boolean b = true;
Boolean bb = b;

is translated to:

iconst_1
istore_1            //b = 1 (true)
iload_1             //b
invokestatic    #2; //Method java/lang/Boolean.valueOf:(Z)Ljava/lang/Boolean;
astore_2            //bb = Boolean.valueOf(b)

Use whichever you find more useful and readable. Since using Boolean.valueOf() is not giving you anything except extra typing, you should aim for autoboxing.

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Situation complicates when you think about opposite conversion – from Boolean to boolean. This time Boolean.booleanValue() is called transparently for you by the compiler, which can theoretically cause NullPointerException.