orElseDefault
orElseDefault is a programming pattern used to obtain a value from an optional, nullable, or may-be container by supplying a fallback when no value is present. The goal is to avoid explicit null checks and to guarantee a concrete result in all code paths. In libraries that model optional presence, orElseDefault (or an equivalent operation) returns the contained value if it exists, otherwise it yields a default value.
There are two common forms of orElseDefault. The eager form uses a fixed default supplied as a
Usage and semantics. orElseDefault is typically used in pipelines or chains of operations where values may
Relation to other concepts. The pattern aligns with similar constructs across languages, including getOrElse in Scala,
See also. Optional, Maybe/Option types, orElse, getOrElse, Elvis operator, unwrap_or_else.