Should Getter Methods Return Java 8 Optionals?

Java 8's Optional Type: A Suitable Choice for Getter Methods?

The introduction of Java 8's Optional type has sparked a debate among developers regarding its suitability as the return type for getter methods.

Q: Is it a good practice to use Optional instead of the traditional Foo for getter methods, assuming the value could be null?

A: The implementation team behind Java 8 had specific intentions for introducing the Optional type. It was not designed to serve as a general "Maybe" type but rather as a limited mechanism for library method return types where a clear indication of "no result" was necessary and using null would likely lead to errors.

For instance, returning an empty array or list is preferable to using Optional in methods that return arrays or lists of results. Similarly, avoiding Optional as a field or method parameter is generally recommended.

Overuse Concerns:

The use of Optional as the return type for getter methods is considered by the team to be an example of overuse. Optional was not intended to replace traditional return types in such scenarios.

Best Practices:

While Optional is not inherently problematic, it's important to avoid using it exclusively. If you determine that Optional is the suitable choice for a particular getter method, exercise caution by utilizing safe methods such as orElse or ifPresent instead of calling Optional.get directly. Moreover, consider renaming the get method appropriately to highlight its potentially null-returning nature.

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