{"record":{"id":"ade5a5c0ccb65021","repo":"flowable/flowable-engine","slug":"categorylike-is-null-ade5a5","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"categoryLike is null","messagePattern":"categoryLike is null","errorType":"validation","errorClass":"FlowableIllegalArgumentException","httpStatus":null,"severity":"warning","filePath":"modules/flowable-dmn-engine/src/main/java/org/flowable/dmn/engine/impl/DecisionQueryImpl.java","lineNumber":97,"sourceCode":"    @Override\n    public DmnDecisionQuery decisionIds(Set<String> decisionIds) {\n        this.ids = decisionIds;\n        return this;\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public DecisionQueryImpl decisionCategory(String category) {\n        if (category == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"category is null\");\n        }\n        this.category = category;\n        return this;\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public DecisionQueryImpl decisionCategoryLike(String categoryLike) {\n        if (categoryLike == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"categoryLike is null\");\n        }\n        this.categoryLike = categoryLike;\n        return this;\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public DecisionQueryImpl decisionCategoryNotEquals(String categoryNotEquals) {\n        if (categoryNotEquals == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"categoryNotEquals is null\");\n        }\n        this.categoryNotEquals = categoryNotEquals;\n        return this;\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public DecisionQueryImpl decisionName(String name) {\n        if (name == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"name is null\");","sourceCodeStart":79,"sourceCodeEnd":115,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/flowable/flowable-engine/blob/d6d39ce1c69ff244f2d9dc6af756a9b95e865586/modules/flowable-dmn-engine/src/main/java/org/flowable/dmn/engine/impl/DecisionQueryImpl.java#L79-L115","documentation":"DecisionQueryImpl.decisionCategoryLike rejects a null categoryLike pattern with FlowableIllegalArgumentException. The like-pattern filter must be a concrete string; null is treated as a caller mistake and fails fast.","triggerScenarios":"Calling decisionCategoryLike(pattern) where pattern is null, e.g. a wildcard expression built from user input that was absent.","commonSituations":"Search filters assembled from optional HTTP query params; a '%' wildcard string constructed from a null base value.","solutions":["Only call decisionCategoryLike when a non-null pattern is available.","Omit the call to match all categories.","Provide a default pattern (e.g. \"%.%\" or a sensible wildcard) at the call site."],"exampleFix":"// before\nquery.decisionCategoryLike(\"%\" + userInput + \"%\"); // userInput null -> \"%null%\" or NPE risk\n\n// after\nif (userInput != null) {\n    query.decisionCategoryLike(\"%\" + userInput + \"%\");\n}","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"if (categoryLike != null) { query.decisionCategoryLike(categoryLike); }","typeGuard":"boolean hasPattern = (categoryLike instanceof String s) && !s.isBlank();","tryCatchPattern":"try {\n    query.decisionCategoryLike(pattern);\n} catch (FlowableIllegalArgumentException e) {\n    // fall back to unfiltered query\n}","preventionTips":["Build like-patterns only from validated non-null input","Treat blank search terms as 'no filter'","Centralize optional-filter application in a query-builder helper"],"tags":["null-check","query","validation","java"],"backgroundTag":"null-argument","analyzedSha":"d6d39ce1c69ff244f2d9dc6af756a9b95e865586","analyzedAt":"2026-09-11T06:41:19.413Z","contentChangedAt":"2026-09-11T06:41:19.413Z","schemaVersion":2},"datasetVersion":"2026-09-14T11:17:12.474Z"}