Why isn't there an Optional.or(Optional default) method?

Question

Is there a way to make the following code sample more concise?

final FluentIterable<AuthContext> withEmails = // ...               
final Optional<AuthContext> verified = withEmails.firstMatch(VERIFIED_EMAIL);

if (verified.isPresent()) {
    return verified.get();
}

return withEmails.first().orNull();

I was trying to do something like return verified.or(withEmails.first()) but there is no appropriate method in Optional.

Alternatively return verified.or(withEmails.first().orNull()) will fail when the orNull() method returns null.

Answer 1

Just do verified.or(withEmails.first()).orNull();.

Depending on the return type of your method and your IDE of choice, the type inference may not suggest this as it returns another Optional of type T rather an a T itself.

c.f. Optional#or(Optional)