Collection size and emptiness checks in Kotlin

Introduction

We check if a collection has items or is empty to decide what to do next in our program.

When you want to see if a list has any elements before processing it.

Before showing data from a collection, check if it is empty to show a message instead.

To avoid errors by making sure a collection is not empty before accessing its items.

When you want to count how many items are in a collection to display or use that number.

Syntax

Kotlin

collection.isEmpty()
collection.isNotEmpty()
collection.size
collection.count()

Use isEmpty() to check if the collection has no elements.

Use isNotEmpty() to check if the collection has one or more elements.

Examples

Check if the list has elements or not.

Kotlin

val list = listOf(1, 2, 3)
println(list.isEmpty())  // false
println(list.isNotEmpty())  // true

Check an empty list returns true for isEmpty.

Kotlin

val emptyList = emptyList<String>()
println(emptyList.isEmpty())  // true
println(emptyList.isNotEmpty())  // false

Get the number of items in the list using size or count.

Kotlin

val fruits = listOf("apple", "banana", "cherry")
println(fruits.size)  // 3
println(fruits.count())  // 3

Sample Program

This program checks if the list 'numbers' has items and prints the count or a message if empty.

Kotlin

fun main() {
    val numbers = listOf(10, 20, 30)
    if (numbers.isNotEmpty()) {
        println("The list has ${numbers.size} items.")
    } else {
        println("The list is empty.")
    }
}

Important Notes

Using isEmpty() and isNotEmpty() is clearer and safer than comparing size to zero.

Both size and count() return the number of elements; size is usually faster.

Checking emptiness helps avoid errors when accessing elements in a collection.

Summary

Use isEmpty() to check if a collection has no elements.

Use isNotEmpty() to check if it has one or more elements.

Use size or count() to find how many items are in the collection.

Practice

1. Which Kotlin function checks if a collection has no elements?

easy

A. count()

B. isNotEmpty()

C. size()

D. isEmpty()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of isEmpty()

   This function returns true if the collection has zero elements.

2. Step 2: Compare with other functions

   isNotEmpty() checks for one or more elements, count() and size return the number of elements but do not return a boolean.

3. Final Answer:

   isEmpty() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Check empty collection with isEmpty() = true [OK]

Hint: Use isEmpty() to check for no elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing isEmpty() with isNotEmpty()
• Using count() to check emptiness
• Calling size() as a function instead of property

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to check if a list named items is not empty in Kotlin?

easy

A. if (items.isNotEmpty()) { ... }

B. if (items.count > 0) { ... }

C. if (items.size() > 0) { ... }

D. if (items.isEmpty) { ... }

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct function call syntax

   In Kotlin, isNotEmpty() is a function and requires parentheses.

2. Step 2: Check other options for syntax errors

   isEmpty without parentheses is invalid, size is a property, not a function, so size() is wrong, and count is a function, so count > 0 is invalid.

3. Final Answer:

   if (items.isNotEmpty()) { ... } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use isNotEmpty() with parentheses [OK]

Hint: Remember isNotEmpty() needs parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using property syntax without parentheses for functions
• Calling size as a function
• Using count without parentheses

3. What is the output of this Kotlin code?

val numbers = listOf(1, 2, 3, 4)
println(numbers.size)
println(numbers.isEmpty())
println(numbers.isNotEmpty())

medium

A. 4
true
false

B. 3
true
false

C. 4
false
true

D. Error: size is not a property

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the size of the list

   The list has 4 elements, so numbers.size returns 4.

2. Step 2: Evaluate emptiness checks

   numbers.isEmpty() returns false because the list is not empty.
   numbers.isNotEmpty() returns true because the list has elements.

3. Final Answer:

   4 false true -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Size = 4, empty? false, not empty? true [OK]

Hint: Remember size counts elements; isEmpty() returns false if not empty [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking size is zero-based index
• Confusing isEmpty() and isNotEmpty() results
• Assuming size is a function, causing error

4. Identify the error in this Kotlin code snippet:

val data = listOf<String>()
if (data.isEmpty) {
    println("No data")
}

medium

A. Missing parentheses after isEmpty

B. listOf<String>() cannot be empty

C. println syntax is incorrect

D. data should be mutable

Solution

1. Step 1: Check usage of isEmpty

   isEmpty is a function and must be called with parentheses: isEmpty().

2. Step 2: Verify other parts of the code

   listOf<String>() creates an empty list correctly, println syntax is correct, and mutability is not required for checking emptiness.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses after isEmpty -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Functions need parentheses even if no arguments [OK]

Hint: Always add () when calling functions like isEmpty() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using property syntax for functions
• Thinking empty list creation is invalid
• Assuming mutability is needed for checks

5. You have a list of user names and want to print how many users are online only if the list is not empty. Which Kotlin code snippet correctly does this?

hard

A. if (users.isEmpty()) println("Online users: ${users.size}")

B. if (users.size > 0) println("Online users: ${users.size}")

C. if (users.count == 0) println("Online users: ${users.count}")

D. if (users.isNotEmpty) println("Online users: ${users.size}")

Solution

1. Step 1: Check condition for non-empty list

   Using users.size > 0 correctly checks if the list has one or more elements.

2. Step 2: Verify printing statement

   The print statement uses string interpolation to show the number of users online.

3. Step 3: Analyze incorrect options

   isEmpty() checks for empty, so if (users.isEmpty()) println("Online users: ${users.size}") prints when empty, which is wrong.
   count is a function, so count == 0 is invalid.
   isNotEmpty without parentheses is incorrect syntax.

4. Final Answer:

   if (users.size > 0) println("Online users: ${users.size}") -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Check size > 0 for non-empty list [OK]

Hint: Use size > 0 or isNotEmpty() with parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using isEmpty() to check for non-empty
• Calling count without parentheses
• Omitting parentheses on isNotEmpty()