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Java Java Objects Delivering the MVP Applying a Discount Code

Throwing an Illegal Argument Exception error

Why would this code be throwing an Illegal Argument Exception error?

Order.java
public class Order {
  private String itemName;
  private int priceInCents;
  private String discountCode;

  public Order(String itemName, int priceInCents) {
    this.itemName = itemName;
    this.priceInCents = priceInCents;
  }

  public String getItemName() {
    return itemName;
  }

  public int getPriceInCents() {
    return priceInCents;
  }

  public String getDiscountCode() {
    return discountCode;
  }

  public void applyDiscountCode(String discountCode) {
    discountCode = normalizeDiscountCode(discountCode);
    this.discountCode = discountCode;
  }

  private String normalizeDiscountCode(String discountCode){
    for(int i = 0; i < discountCode.length(); i++){
      if(! Character.isLetter(discountCode.charAt(i)) || discountCode.charAt(i) != '$'){
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid discount code");
      }
    }
    discountCode = discountCode.toUpperCase();
    return discountCode;
  }
}
Example.java
public class Example {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    // This is here just for example use cases.

    Order order = new Order(
            "Yoda PEZ Dispenser",
            600);

    // These are valid.  They are letters and the $ character only
    order.applyDiscountCode("abc");
    order.getDiscountCode(); // ABC

    order.applyDiscountCode("$ale");
    order.getDiscountCode(); // $ALE


    try {
      // This will throw an exception because it contains numbers
      order.applyDiscountCode("ABC123");
    } catch (IllegalArgumentException iae) {
      System.out.println(iae.getMessage());  // Prints "Invalid discount code"
    }
    try {
      // This will throw as well, because it contains a symbol.
      order.applyDiscountCode("w@w");
    }catch (IllegalArgumentException iae) {
      System.out.println(iae.getMessage());  // Prints "Invalid discount code"
    }

  }
}

1 Answer

Simon Coates
Simon Coates
8,177 Points

This one trips up people. If it's valid if it's a letter OR a $, then it's invalid if it's not a letter AND not a $. You can think this through, but I think it's an application of de morgans law. It seems to accept either of the following.

  private String normalizeDiscountCode(String discountCode){
    for(int i = 0; i < discountCode.length(); i++){
      if(! Character.isLetter(discountCode.charAt(i)) && discountCode.charAt(i) != '$'){
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid discount code");
      }
    }
    return discountCode.toUpperCase();    
  }

or just inverting the success condition:

    private String normalizeDiscountCode(String discountCode){
    for(int i = 0; i < discountCode.length(); i++){
      if(!
         (Character.isLetter(discountCode.charAt(i)) || discountCode.charAt(i) == '$')
      ){
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid discount code");
      }
    }
    return discountCode.toUpperCase();    
  }