Date.ValueOf not accepting null

Question

String str = null;
Date d = Date.valueOf(str);

I am getting the following error when running the above snippet in Anon Apex.

Line: 2, Column: 1
System.NullPointerException: Argument cannot be null.

This is quite strange.

I have a field that contains string data and my target field is of Date Datatype as such I am using Date.ValueOf to convert it.

The quirk here is that the string field may also be null.

My code is failing because Date.ValueOf() does not accept null value as its input parameter.

What I hoped was that upon seeing a null value in the parameter, the Date.ValueOf() will also return a null value.

Can anyone tell me what should I do here ?

What is the null equivalent for a date in Salesforce ?

Why not a simple null check before performing your necessary operations — Antonio Manente, Commented Apr 8, 2016 at 0:59
I use the conversion in assignment operation for object initialization..something like this new Obj( Date_Value = Date.ValueOf(String) ); — VPY, Commented Apr 8, 2016 at 1:04
Not sure how can I do a null check in my case..see my prev comment — VPY, Commented Apr 8, 2016 at 1:04

cropredy · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-08 01:21:31Z

5

Why not

Date d = String.isBlank(str)
          ? null
          : Date.valueOf(str);

answered Apr 8, 2016 at 1:21

cropredy

73.3k8 gold badges128 silver badges284 bronze badges

Add a comment |

1 Answer 1