Using valueOf() Instead of toString()

The valueOf() method is useful when you do not know the value contained and it might throw a NullPointerException. It returns null and you can handle the same in your code as needed.

The toString() on the other hand does not handle it and throws the exception.

public class UsingValueOf
{
   public static void main(String args[])
   {
      UsingValueOf usingValueOf = new UsingValueOf();
      usingValueOf.proceed();
   }
   
   private void proceed()
   {
      String nullString = null;
      try
      {
         //Using toString() will throw NullPointerException
         System.out.println(nullString.toString());
      }catch(NullPointerException npe)
      {
         System.out.println("Exception: nullString is null");
      }
      //Using valueOf() will NOT throw NullPointerException
      System.out.println(String.valueOf(nullString));
   }
}