Refactoring

Introduce Null object

Overview ¶

Depending on the language, calling a method on a variable which is null leads to errors, system crashes or related behavior. In order to avoid this, developers wrap the variable in null checks. Repeating such null handling logic in one or two places is not necessarily a problem, but sprinkling it over the entire codebase is less than ideal.

Code with many null checks is usually harder to read and comprehend. Null checks must also be repeated in all future code, so all developers have to be aware of duplicating the appropriate behavior.

Introducing a Null object, an object which represents the behavior in case of “null”, should usually reduce or at least keep the code size even. If the code size increases, it is usually a sign that a Null object is not necessary.

A Null object can rawly be implemented in two flavors. Either by sub-classing, or by implementing an interface. In the examples section, we will demonstrate both variants.

Checklist ¶

Step 1

Create the Null object
The Null object can be created either by sub-classing or by implement an interface.

Step 2

Find null handling code
Null handling code either checks that a variable against null and then performs some behavior or executes a method on the variable. This behavior should now be moved to the Null object.

Step 3

Repeat step 2
Do the same for all other null handling code.

Step 4

Initialize Variable/Field to Null object
Go to a class where a null check is used an initialize a field or variable to the Null object as early as possible.

Step 5

Replace Null Checks
In the same class, replace all null checks with calls to the method on the Null object instead.

Step 6

Repeat steps 4 & 5
Repeat both steps until all null checks have been removed.