When boxed type ``++java.lang.Boolean++`` is used as an expression it will throw ``++NullPointerException++`` if the value is ``++null++`` as defined in https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/html/jls-5.html#jls-5.1.8[Java Language Specification §5.1.8 Unboxing Conversion].


It is safer to avoid such conversion altogether and handle the ``++null++`` value explicitly.

== Noncompliant Code Example

----
Boolean b = getBoolean();
if (b) {  // Noncompliant, it will throw NPE when b == null
  foo();
} else {
  bar();
}
----

== Compliant Solution

----
Boolean b = getBoolean();
if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(b)) {
  foo(); 
} else {
  bar();  // will be invoked for both b == false and b == null
}
----

== See

* https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/html/jls-5.html#jls-5.1.8[Java Language Specification §5.1.8 Unboxing Conversion]