How to correctly use java.util.Locale to check for Australian locale

Question

Question : How do I correctly use java.util.locale for checking a user's locale?

Summary : The legacy code I have uses a predefined static in Locale to check if a user is, for example, in France ...

if(Locale.FRANCE.equals(locale) || Locale.FRENCH.equals(locale)) {
    // do stuff
}

I wish to add some code to check if a user is in Australia. However, Locale only has a limited set of predefined statics, and AUSTRALIA is not one of them. I appear to be able to do the following ...

if(new Locale("AU").equals(locale)) {
    // do stuff
}

However, this is inconsistent with the existing code. What is the correct way of doing it? If the first example I have given is correct, why is the predefined list of statics so limited?

Answer 1

No. new Locale( "AU" ) would be the language "AU" (whatever that is). You need the two argument constructor!

The Locale.equals() methods compares both language, country and variant. You should probably check like this:

if ( "AU".equals( locale.getCountry() ) ) { /* do stuff */ }

As for why the list of predefined Locale's are so limited: Pass. We should probably be honored that there is anything but en_US at all :-)

Cheers,