Is null check needed before calling instanceof?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

_x000D_ No, a null check is not needed before using instanceof. The expression x instanceof SomeClass is false if x is null. From the Java Language Specification, section 15.20.2, "Type comparison operator instanceof": "At run time, the result of the instanceof operator is true if the value of the RelationalExpression is not null and the reference could be cast to the ReferenceType without raising a ClassCastException. Otherwise the result is false." So if the operand is null, the result is false.