Optional Objects
Optional objects are a programming concept that represents values that may or may not be present, helping to avoid null pointer exceptions and improve code safety. They are commonly implemented as container types (like Optional in Java, Option in Scala, or std::optional in C++) that wrap a value or indicate its absence. This pattern encourages explicit handling of missing data, making code more robust and readable.
Developers should use optional objects when dealing with functions or data that might return null or have no valid result, such as database queries, API responses, or configuration lookups. They are particularly valuable in statically-typed languages to enforce compile-time checks for null safety, reducing runtime errors and improving maintainability in systems where missing values are common.