Assembling a ``++StringBuilder++`` or ``++StringBuffer++`` into a ``++String++`` merely to see if it's empty is a waste of cycles. Instead, jump right to the heart of the matter and get its ``++.length()++`` instead. == Noncompliant Code Example ---- StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); // ... if ("".equals(sb.toString()) { // Noncompliant // ... } ---- == Compliant Solution ---- StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); // ... if (sb.length() == 0) { // ... } ----