Empty statements, i.e. ;, are usually introduced by mistake, for example because:
- It was meant to be replaced by an actual statement, but this was forgotten.
- There was a typo which lead the semicolon to be doubled, i.e.
;;.
Noncompliant Code Example
void doSomething() {
; // Noncompliant - was used as a kind of TODO marker
}
void doSomethingElse() {
System.out.println("Hello, world!");; // Noncompliant - double ;
...
}
Compliant Solution
void doSomething() {}
void doSomethingElse() {
System.out.println("Hello, world!");
...
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) ; // compliant if unique statement of a loop
...
}
See
- CERT, MSC12-C. - Detect and remove code that has no effect or is never executed
- CERT, MSC51-J. - Do not place a semicolon immediately following an if, for, or while
condition
- CERT, EXP15-C. - Do not place a semicolon on the same line as an if, for, or while
statement
