{"record":{"id":"eb2278ed86b6d055","repo":"flowable/flowable-engine","slug":"case-definition-category-is-null","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"Case definition category is null","messagePattern":"Case definition category 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":223,"sourceCode":"    }\n    \n    @Override\n    public HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase(String caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase) {\n        if (caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"Case definition key is null\");\n        }\n        if (inOrStatement) {\n            this.currentOrQueryObject.caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase = caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase;\n        } else {\n            this.caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase = caseDefinitionKeyLikeIgnoreCase;\n        }\n        return this;\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl caseDefinitionCategory(String caseDefinitionCategory) {\n        if (caseDefinitionCategory == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"Case definition category is null\");\n        }\n        if (inOrStatement) {\n            this.currentOrQueryObject.caseDefinitionCategory = caseDefinitionCategory;\n        } else {\n            this.caseDefinitionCategory = caseDefinitionCategory;\n        }\n        return this;\n    }\n    \n    @Override\n    public HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl caseDefinitionCategoryLike(String caseDefinitionCategoryLike) {\n        if (caseDefinitionCategoryLike == null) {\n            throw new FlowableIllegalArgumentException(\"Case definition category is null\");\n        }\n        if (inOrStatement) {\n            this.currentOrQueryObject.caseDefinitionCategoryLike = caseDefinitionCategoryLike;\n        } else {\n            this.caseDefinitionCategoryLike = caseDefinitionCategoryLike;","sourceCodeStart":205,"sourceCodeEnd":241,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/flowable/flowable-engine/blob/d6d39ce1c69ff244f2d9dc6af756a9b95e865586/modules/flowable-cmmn-engine/src/main/java/org/flowable/cmmn/engine/impl/history/HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl.java#L205-L241","documentation":"HistoricCaseInstanceQueryImpl.caseDefinitionCategory() validates that the category is non-null before storing it, throwing FlowableIllegalArgumentException on null. Categories are optional filters, so callers should omit the call rather than pass null.","triggerScenarios":"Calling caseDefinitionCategory(null), or passing a category sourced from missing config/request data.","commonSituations":"Multi-tenant apps filtering by category where the tenant config lacks a category entry; UI filter bindings that default to null.","solutions":["Only call caseDefinitionCategory when a category is actually set","Omit the filter for null/empty input","Use caseDefinitionCategoryLike with a non-null pattern for partial matching","Catch FlowableIllegalArgumentException in generic query-building code"],"exampleFix":"// before\nquery.caseDefinitionCategory(tenantConfig.getCategory());\n// after\nString category = tenantConfig.getCategory();\nif (category != null) {\n    query.caseDefinitionCategory(category);\n}","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"if (category != null && !category.isEmpty()) {\n    query.caseDefinitionCategory(category);\n}","typeGuard":"boolean hasCategory = category instanceof String c && !c.isEmpty();","tryCatchPattern":"try {\n    query.caseDefinitionCategory(category);\n} catch (FlowableIllegalArgumentException e) {\n    throw new BadRequestException(\"Category must not be null\", e);\n}","preventionTips":["Only apply category filters when configured","Default missing tenant/category config to 'no filter'","Centralize optional-filter guards","Validate config at startup so nulls never reach query builders"],"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":"2026-09-18T11:17:12.947Z"}