title: how do I find out if an update or insert was successful in dynamoDB using the Java SDK?
body: <p>I have a Java function that updates a DynamoDB Item. I want to handle the case where the update is not successful for some reason. My code looks something like this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Table table = dynamoDB.getTable(tableName);
  AttributeUpdate att = new attributeUpdate(fieldName).put(value);
  UpdateItemOutcome outcome = table.updateItem(keyFieldName, keyValue, att);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The result of the updateItem call is an UpdateItemOutcome object. All this has is a getItem() method which should provide the returned attributes from the update operation, and a getUpdateItemResult() method which provide an UpdateItemResult object. </p>
  
  <p>getItem() gives me null even when the call succeeds. The UpdateItemResult object doesn't seem to have any method that provides me with any kind of status or error regarding the operation.</p>
  
  <p>Does anyone know what the best practice is for checking the result of operations like this in DynamoDB? The question also pertains to putItem() operations.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>