Re: how to check if a String is empty?
to avoid null pointer exceptions. If("".equals(test)) { } On 24 Jun 2004, at 19:39, Tom K wrote: Every once in a while you see this question pop-up and the same thing happens...you get a "whole" bunch of answers. Remember that a String is an Object and not a primitive e.g. int, long etc. So in that regard if it is not an int but an Integer what would you use to test for an empty String. Think about it. Tom Kochanowicz -Original Message- From: Frank Zammetti [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 12:27 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Depends I guess :) I personally find the use of a "magic number" to be more complex. To my eyes, it's clearer to see an empty string. The intention is more clear. Kind of a silly debate I suppose because neither is exactly rocket science ;) From: "Robert F. Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Tomcat Users List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:22:06 -0700 Howdy, if (test == null || test.trim().length() == 0 ) { } is simpler. /Robert Frank Zammetti wrote: I've always done if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } (I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". Frank From: Robert Bateman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:58:30 -0400 Wouldn't test.trim().length() be a better test? length() after trm would tell you if non white-space was left. Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 12:30 pm, Peter Guyatt wrote: Hi There, You could do the check test.length() > 0 Pete -----Original Message- From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 To: 'Tomcat Users List' Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String ? -----Original Message- From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM To: 'Tomcat Users List' Subject: how to check if a String is empty? Hello, maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I hope you can answer it. I often see the condition String test = req.getParameter("test"); if (test == null) { /* string is empty */ } else { /* string contains something */ } But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string contains whitespaces only? I though of something like if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { } but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. Regards Marten - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Make the most of your family vacation with tips from the MSN Family Travel Guide! http://dollar.msn.com - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar – get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.682 / Virus Database: 444 - Release Date: 5/11/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.682 / Virus Database: 444 - Release Date: 5/11/2004 - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: how to check if a String is empty?
Every once in a while you see this question pop-up and the same thing happens...you get a "whole" bunch of answers. Remember that a String is an Object and not a primitive e.g. int, long etc. So in that regard if it is not an int but an Integer what would you use to test for an empty String. Think about it. Tom Kochanowicz -Original Message- From: Frank Zammetti [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 12:27 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Depends I guess :) I personally find the use of a "magic number" to be more complex. To my eyes, it's clearer to see an empty string. The intention is more clear. Kind of a silly debate I suppose because neither is exactly rocket science ;) >From: "Robert F. Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Tomcat Users List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? >Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:22:06 -0700 > >Howdy, > >if (test == null || test.trim().length() == 0 ) { } is simpler. > >/Robert > >Frank Zammetti wrote: > >>I've always done >> >>if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } >> >>(I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that >>case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than >>that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". >> >>Frank >> >> >>>From: Robert Bateman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? >>>Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:58:30 -0400 >>> >>>Wouldn't test.trim().length() be a better test? length() after trm >>>would >>>tell you if non white-space was left. >>> >>>Bob >>> >>> >>>On Thursday 24 June 2004 12:30 pm, Peter Guyatt wrote: >>> > Hi There, >>> > >>> > You could do the check test.length() > 0 >>> > >>> > Pete >>> > >>> > -----Original Message- >>> > From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> > Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 >>> > To: 'Tomcat Users List' >>> > Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? >>> > >>> > >>> > There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String >>> > >>> > ? >>> > >>> > -Original Message- >>> > From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> > Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM >>> > To: 'Tomcat Users List' >>> > Subject: how to check if a String is empty? >>> > >>> > >>> > Hello, >>> > >>> > maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem >>> > appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, >>>I >>> > hope you can answer it. >>> > >>> > I often see the condition >>> > >>> > String test = req.getParameter("test"); >>> > >>> > if (test == null) { >>> > /* string is empty */ >>> > } else { >>> > /* string contains something */ >>> > } >>> > >>> > But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, >>> > but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string >>> > contains whitespaces only? I though of something like >>> > >>> > if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { >>> > } >>> > >>> > but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? >>> > With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. >>> > >>> > Regards >>> > Marten >>> > >>> >>> >>>- >>>To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >> >>_ >>Make the most of your family vacation with tips from the MSN Family Travel >>Guide! http://dollar.msn.com >> >> >>- >>To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> > > >- >To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar – get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.682 / Virus Database: 444 - Release Date: 5/11/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.682 / Virus Database: 444 - Release Date: 5/11/2004 - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
That's a good question, and one to which I do not know the answer. My HUNCH is that, as you say, modern compilers would deal with that easy enough. I could be very wrong though. Anyone happen to know for sure? From: Robert Bateman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 13:21:09 -0400 Frank, NOT questioning your "solution", but doesn't the call to equalsIgnoreCase("") cause a temp String object to be created and destroyed? Or do todays JIT compilers handle that case effectively? Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 01:16 pm, Frank Zammetti wrote: > I've always done > > if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } > > (I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that > case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than > that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". > > Frank - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ MSN Movies - Trailers, showtimes, DVD's, and the latest news from Hollywood! http://movies.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200509ave/direct/01/ - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
Depends I guess :) I personally find the use of a "magic number" to be more complex. To my eyes, it's clearer to see an empty string. The intention is more clear. Kind of a silly debate I suppose because neither is exactly rocket science ;) From: "Robert F. Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Tomcat Users List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:22:06 -0700 Howdy, if (test == null || test.trim().length() == 0 ) { } is simpler. /Robert Frank Zammetti wrote: I've always done if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } (I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". Frank From: Robert Bateman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:58:30 -0400 Wouldn't test.trim().length() be a better test? length() after trm would tell you if non white-space was left. Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 12:30 pm, Peter Guyatt wrote: > Hi There, > > You could do the check test.length() > 0 > > Pete > > -Original Message- > From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? > > > There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String > > ? > > -Original Message- > From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: how to check if a String is empty? > > > Hello, > > maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem > appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I > hope you can answer it. > > I often see the condition > > String test = req.getParameter("test"); > > if (test == null) { > /* string is empty */ > } else { > /* string contains something */ > } > > But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, > but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string > contains whitespaces only? I though of something like > > if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { > } > > but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? > With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. > > Regards > Marten > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Make the most of your family vacation with tips from the MSN Family Travel Guide! http://dollar.msn.com - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
Howdy, if (test == null || test.trim().length() == 0 ) { } is simpler. /Robert Frank Zammetti wrote: I've always done if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } (I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". Frank From: Robert Bateman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:58:30 -0400 Wouldn't test.trim().length() be a better test? length() after trm would tell you if non white-space was left. Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 12:30 pm, Peter Guyatt wrote: > Hi There, > > You could do the check test.length() > 0 > > Pete > > -Original Message- > From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? > > > There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String > > ? > > -----Original Message- > From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: how to check if a String is empty? > > > Hello, > > maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem > appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I > hope you can answer it. > > I often see the condition > > String test = req.getParameter("test"); > > if (test == null) { > /* string is empty */ > } else { > /* string contains something */ > } > > But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, > but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string > contains whitespaces only? I though of something like > > if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { > } > > but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? > With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. > > Regards > Marten > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Make the most of your family vacation with tips from the MSN Family Travel Guide! http://dollar.msn.com - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
Frank, NOT questioning your "solution", but doesn't the call to equalsIgnoreCase("") cause a temp String object to be created and destroyed? Or do todays JIT compilers handle that case effectively? Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 01:16 pm, Frank Zammetti wrote: > I've always done > > if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } > > (I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that > case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than > that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". > > Frank - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
I've always done if (test == null || test.trim().equalsIgnoreCase("")) { } (I'm anal about always using equalsIgnoreCase unless I know for sure that case sensitivity is required). No need to do anything more complex than that in my experience. "Always do the simplest thing that will work". Frank From: Robert Bateman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Tomcat Users List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: how to check if a String is empty? Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:58:30 -0400 Wouldn't test.trim().length() be a better test? length() after trm would tell you if non white-space was left. Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 12:30 pm, Peter Guyatt wrote: > Hi There, > >You could do the check test.length() > 0 > > Pete > > -Original Message- > From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? > > > There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String > > ? > > -----Original Message- > From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: how to check if a String is empty? > > > Hello, > > maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem > appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I > hope you can answer it. > > I often see the condition > > String test = req.getParameter("test"); > > if (test == null) { >/* string is empty */ > } else { >/* string contains something */ > } > > But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, > but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string > contains whitespaces only? I though of something like > > if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { > } > > but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? > With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. > > Regards > Marten > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Make the most of your family vacation with tips from the MSN Family Travel Guide! http://dollar.msn.com - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
Wouldn't test.trim().length() be a better test? length() after trm would tell you if non white-space was left. Bob On Thursday 24 June 2004 12:30 pm, Peter Guyatt wrote: > Hi There, > > You could do the check test.length() > 0 > > Pete > > -Original Message- > From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? > > > There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String > > ? > > -Original Message- > From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM > To: 'Tomcat Users List' > Subject: how to check if a String is empty? > > > Hello, > > maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem > appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I > hope you can answer it. > > I often see the condition > > String test = req.getParameter("test"); > > if (test == null) { > /* string is empty */ > } else { > /* string contains something */ > } > > But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, > but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string > contains whitespaces only? I though of something like > > if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { > } > > but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? > With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. > > Regards > Marten > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: how to check if a String is empty?
Hi There, You could do the check test.length() > 0 Pete -Original Message- From: Carl Olivier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 24 June 2004 17:18 To: 'Tomcat Users List' Subject: RE: how to check if a String is empty? There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String ? -Original Message- From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM To: 'Tomcat Users List' Subject: how to check if a String is empty? Hello, maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I hope you can answer it. I often see the condition String test = req.getParameter("test"); if (test == null) { /* string is empty */ } else { /* string contains something */ } But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string contains whitespaces only? I though of something like if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { } but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. Regards Marten - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: how to check if a String is empty?
Howdy, Instead of comparing to a zero length string, test.trim().equala(""), try test.trim().length() == 0 /Robert Carl Olivier wrote: There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String ? -Original Message- From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM To: 'Tomcat Users List' Subject: how to check if a String is empty? Hello, maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I hope you can answer it. I often see the condition String test = req.getParameter("test"); if (test == null) { /* string is empty */ } else { /* string contains something */ } But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string contains whitespaces only? I though of something like if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { } but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. Regards Marten - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: how to check if a String is empty?
There is a trim() funtion in java.lang.String ? -Original Message- From: Marten Lehmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 24 June 2004 06:20 PM To: 'Tomcat Users List' Subject: how to check if a String is empty? Hello, maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I hope you can answer it. I often see the condition String test = req.getParameter("test"); if (test == null) { /* string is empty */ } else { /* string contains something */ } But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string contains whitespaces only? I though of something like if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { } but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. Regards Marten - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
how to check if a String is empty?
Hello, maybe this is not the perfect group for my question, but as my problem appears at the development of JSPs and tomcat is concerned with that, I hope you can answer it. I often see the condition String test = req.getParameter("test"); if (test == null) { /* string is empty */ } else { /* string contains something */ } But if test contains just blanks and other whitespaces, it's not null, but doesn't contain usable data anyhow. How can I check if a string contains whitespaces only? I though of something like if (test == null || test.trim().equals("")) { } but there's no trim()-function, right? How do you solve this problem? With whitespaces I mean blanks, tabs and newlines. Regards Marten - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]