How to Avoid java.lang.NumberFormatException: Input String 'N/A'?

What steps can I take to prevent java.lang.NumberFormatException for the string 'N/A' in my Java application?

// Example of parsing an integer safely
def convertStringToInt(input) {
    if (input == null || input.equals("N/A")) {
        return 0; // or handle it according to your needs
    }
    return Integer.parseInt(input);
}

The java.lang.NumberFormatException occurs when an application attempts to convert a string to a numeric type, but the string does not have an appropriate format. In your case, the input string 'N/A' is causing this issue during parsing to an Integer. This guide explains how to prevent this exception by implementing proper validation and exception handling.

// Example of handling NumberFormatException with a try-catch block
try {
    int number = Integer.parseInt(inputString);
} catch (NumberFormatException e) {
    System.out.println("Invalid input: " + inputString);
    // Handle the case where the input is not a valid integer
}

Causes

• The input string contains non-numeric characters (e.g., 'N/A').
• No validation check is in place before attempting to parse the string.
• The assumption that all input strings are valid integers.

Solutions

• Implement input validation to check for non-numeric values before parsing.
• Use try-catch blocks to handle parsing exceptions gracefully.
• Replace invalid input with a default value or null before parsing.

Mistake: Not validating input before attempting to parse it.

Solution: Always check if the input string is null or matches undesirable values such as 'N/A'.

Mistake: Ignoring the potential for exceptions during parsing.

Solution: Use exception handling mechanisms to catch and manage exceptions effectively.