How to handle Null values while working with JDBC?

SQL's use of NULL values and Java's use of null are different concepts. So, to handle SQL NULL values in Java, there are three tactics you can use:

• Avoid using getXXX( ) methods that return primitive data types.

• Use wrapper classes for primitive data types, and use the ResultSet object's wasNull( ) method to test whether the wrapper class variable that received the value returned by the getXXX( ) method should be set to null.

• Use primitive data types and the ResultSet object's wasNull( ) method to test whether the primitive variable that received the value returned by the getXXX( ) method should be set to an acceptable value that you've chosen to represent a NULL.

Example

Following code snippet demonstrates how to handle null values in Java.

Statement stmt = conn.createStatement( );
String sql = "SELECT id, first, last, age FROM Employees";
ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery(sql);
int id = rs.getInt(1);
if( rs.wasNull( ) ) {
id = 0;
}