Java String.indexOf and empty Strings

Question

I'm curious why the String.indexOf is returning a 0 (instead of -1) when asking for the index of an empty string within a string.

The Javadocs only say this method returns the index in this string of the specified string, -1 if the string isn't found.

To me this behavior seems highly unexpected, I would have expected a -1. Any ideas why this unexpected behavior is going on? I would at the least think this is worth a note in the method's Javadocs...

System.out.println("FOO".indexOf("")); // outputs 0 wtf!!!
System.out.println("FOO".indexOf("bar")); // outputs -1 as expected
System.out.println("FOO".indexOf("F")); // outputs 0 as expected
System.out.println("".indexOf("")); // outputs 0 as expected, I think

question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2683466/java-string-indexof-and-empty-strings

Answer 1

The empty string is everywhere, and nowhere. It is within all strings at all times, permeating the essence of their being, yet as you seek it you shall never catch a glimpse.

How many empty strings can you fit at the beginning of a string? Mu

The student said to the teacher,

Teacher, I believe that I have found the nature of the empty string. The empty string is like a particle of dust, and it floats freely through a string as dust floats freely through the room, glistening in a beam of sunlight.

The teacher responded to the student,

Hmm. A fine notion. Now tell me, where is the dust, and where is the sunlight?

The teacher struck the student with a strap and instructed him to continue his meditation.