Why is there no String.Empty in Java?

Question

I understand that every time I type the string literal \"\", the same String object is referenced in the string pool.

But why doesn\'t the String API in

Answer 1

Apache StringUtils addresses this problem too.

Failings of the other options:

• isEmpty() - not null safe. If the string is null, throws an NPE
• length() == 0 - again not null safe. Also does not take into account whitespace strings.
• Comparison to EMPTY constant - May not be null safe. Whitespace problem

Granted StringUtils is another library to drag around, but it works very well and saves loads of time and hassle checking for nulls or gracefully handling NPEs.