Java 8 introduced many significant features, one of which is the Optional class. It was intended to address the common problem of dealing with null values in Java. Many people in the industry feel that you are not a real Java programmer until you haven't come across a NullPointerException. Since NullPointerException indicates the absence of a value, the null reference is the source of many problems. So, Optional class can address some of these problems. In this article, we will explore the Optional Class in Java 8, its benefits, usage, and best practices to ensure efficient and null-safe code. What is Optional Class in Java? The Optional is a class of the 'java.util' package. In simple words, Optional is a single-value container/wrapper that