{"record":{"id":"54f310d799f5a73f","repo":"flowable/flowable-engine","slug":"case-definition-name-is-null","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"Case definition name is null","messagePattern":"Case definition name is null","errorType":"validation","errorClass":"FlowableIllegalArgumentException","httpStatus":null,"severity":"error","filePath":"modules/flowable-cmmn-engine/src/main/java/org/flowable/cmmn/engine/impl/history/HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl.java","lineNumber":262,"sourceCode":"    }\n    \n    @Override\n    public HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase(String caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase) {\n        if (caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"Case definition category is null\");\n        }\n        if (inOrStatement) {\n            this.currentOrQueryObject.caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase = caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase;\n        } else {\n            this.caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase = caseDefinitionCategoryLikeIgnoreCase;\n        }\n        return this;\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl caseDefinitionName(String caseDefinitionName) {\n        if (caseDefinitionName == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"Case definition name is null\");\n        }\n        if (inOrStatement) {\n            this.currentOrQueryObject.caseDefinitionName = caseDefinitionName;\n        } else {\n            this.caseDefinitionName = caseDefinitionName;\n        }\n        return this;\n    }\n    \n    @Override\n    public HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl caseDefinitionNameLike(String caseDefinitionNameLike) {\n        if (caseDefinitionNameLike == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"Case definition name is null\");\n        }\n        if (inOrStatement) {\n            this.currentOrQueryObject.caseDefinitionNameLike = caseDefinitionNameLike;\n        } else {\n            this.caseDefinitionNameLike = caseDefinitionNameLike;","sourceCodeStart":244,"sourceCodeEnd":280,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/flowable/flowable-engine/blob/d6d39ce1c69ff244f2d9dc6af756a9b95e865586/modules/flowable-cmmn-engine/src/main/java/org/flowable/cmmn/engine/impl/history/HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl.java#L244-L280","documentation":"HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl.caseDefinitionName() validates that the name is non-null, throwing FlowableIllegalArgumentException otherwise. The engine fails fast rather than producing an invalid equality query.","triggerScenarios":"Calling caseDefinitionName(null) or passing a name read from missing request/config data.","commonSituations":"Admin screens filtering historic cases by definition name where the field is left empty and null is forwarded.","solutions":["Call caseDefinitionName only when the name is set","Omit the filter for null/empty input","Use caseDefinitionNameLike (non-null required) for partial matches","Catch FlowableIllegalArgumentException to produce a clear validation response"],"exampleFix":"// before\nquery.caseDefinitionName(filter.getName());\n// after\nString name = filter.getName();\nif (name != null && !name.isEmpty()) {\n    query.caseDefinitionName(name);\n}","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"if (name != null && !name.isEmpty()) {\n    query.caseDefinitionName(name);\n}","typeGuard":"boolean hasName = name instanceof String n && !n.isEmpty();","tryCatchPattern":"try {\n    query.caseDefinitionName(name);\n} catch (FlowableIllegalArgumentException e) {\n    throw new BadRequestException(\"Definition name must not be null\", e);\n}","preventionTips":["Treat empty search fields as absent filters","Null-check values extracted from request maps/DTOs","Keep all query filter application behind one guarded API","Add regression tests for null filter fields"],"tags":["flowable","cmmn","null-check","query-api"],"backgroundTag":"null-argument","analyzedSha":"d6d39ce1c69ff244f2d9dc6af756a9b95e865586","analyzedAt":"2026-09-11T06:41:19.413Z","contentChangedAt":"2026-09-11T06:41:19.413Z","schemaVersion":2},"datasetVersion":"2026-09-18T16:30:33.424Z"}