Best way to check for null values in Java?

Question

Before calling a function of an object, I need to check if the object is null, to avoid throwing a NullPointerException.

What is the best way to go about this? I've considered these methods.
Which one is the best programming practice for Java?

// Method 1 if (foo != null) {     if (foo.bar()) {         etc...     } }  // Method 2 if (foo != null ? foo.bar() : false) {     etc... }  // Method 3 try {     if (foo.bar()) {         etc...     } } catch (NullPointerException e) { }  // Method 4 -- Would this work, or would it still call foo.bar()? if (foo != null && foo.bar()) {     etc... } 

Answer 1

Method 4 is best.

if(foo != null && foo.bar()) {    someStuff(); } 

will use short-circuit evaluation, meaning it ends if the first condition of a logical AND is false.

Answer 2

The last and the best one. i.e LOGICAL AND

  if (foo != null && foo.bar()) {     etc... } 

Because in logical &&

it is not necessary to know what the right hand side is, the result must be false

Prefer to read :Java logical operator short-circuiting