== Why is this an issue?

When boxed type `java.lang.Boolean` is used as an expression to determine the control flow (as described in https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/html/jls-4.html#jls-4.2.5[Java Language Specification §4.2.5 The `boolean` Type and boolean Values]) it will throw a `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.

Note, however, that no issues will be raised for Booleans that have already been null-checked.

=== Noncompliant code example

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


=== Compliant solution

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


Boolean b = getBoolean();
if(b != null){
  String test = b ? "test" : "";
}
----

== Resources

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

ifdef::env-github,rspecator-view[]

'''
== Implementation Specification
(visible only on this page)

=== Message

Use a primitive boolean expression here


=== Highlighting

An identifier with java.lang.Boolean type


endif::env-github,rspecator-view[]