Method that returns either an integer either a string

Question

I have to read options of menu from console and the options can be integer or string. my question is if there is another way to check of the input is string or int

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;


public class Read { 


    public Object read(){
        String option = null;
        BufferedReader buffer = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
        try {
            option = buffer.readLine();
            if(isInt(option)){
                return Integer.parseInt(option);
            } else if(isString(option)){
                return option;
            }
        } catch (IOException e) {
            System.out.println("IOException " +e.getMessage());
        }
        return null;
    }


    private boolean isString(String input){
        int choice = Integer.parseInt(input);
        if(choice >= 0){
            return false;
        }
        return true;
    }

    private boolean isInt(String input){
        int choice = Integer.parseInt(input);
        if(choice >= 0){
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }

}

Bohemian · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-28 12:53:02Z

3

Something like this?

boolean b = true:
try 
{ 
     int a = Integer.parseInt(input); 
} 
catch(NumberFormatException ex) 
{ 
      b = false;
}

If it's an not integer b will be false or else remains true

edited Mar 28, 2013 at 12:53

Bohemian♦

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answered Mar 28, 2013 at 12:50

Suvarna Pattayil

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2 Comments

Suvarna Pattayil Over a year ago

@Bohemian Yeah it saves wrapping and unwrapping

Bohemian Over a year ago

Not just that - it means it can't be null; there are only two possible values of a boolean, but a Boolean has three.

Bohemian · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-28 12:55:53Z

1

It depends what you mean by "integer".

If you mean "a whole number", the simplest and best way is use regex:

private boolean isInt(String input){
    return input.matches("\\d+");
}

If you mean "a java int", then you must attempt to parse it and treat an exception as proof it is not a valid int:

private boolean isInt(String input){
    try {
        Integer.parseInt(input);
        return true;
    } catch (NumberFormatException ignore) {
        return false;
    }
}

answered Mar 28, 2013 at 12:55

Bohemian♦

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Comments

s106mo · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-28 12:55:29Z

0

You could use regex, then the method looks like this:

private boolean isInt(String input){
    return input.matches("\\d+");
}

Then the check it:

        if (isInt(option)){
            return Integer.parseInt(option);
        } else {
            return option;
        }

answered Mar 28, 2013 at 12:55

s106mo

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