title: How to check if object is null in Java?
body: <p>What is the best way to check if a position is occupied or not? I don't think I should be using "this==null"...</p>
  
  <pre><code>class Cell {
      int column;
      int row;
      char letter;
  
      public Cell(int column, int row, char letter) {
          super();
          this.column = column;
          this.row = row;
          this.letter = letter;
      }
  
      public boolean isEmpty() {
          if (this==null) return true;
          else return false;
      }
  }
  </code></pre>