TIOBE - Java Coding Standard

Rule: Basic25

Synopsis:	The null check here is misplaced; if the variable is null there'll be a NullPointerException
Language:	Java
Severity Level:	1
Category:	Basic

Description:

The null check here is misplaced. if the variable is null you'll get a NullPointerException. Either the check is useless (the variable will never be "null") or it's incorrect.

public class Foo {
 void bar() {
  if (a.equals(baz) || a == null) {}
 }
}

Justification:

If the variable is null, a NullPointerException is triggered when equals method is called.