java - Should a retrieval method return 'null' or throw an exception when it can't produce the return value?

Question

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Answer 1

If you are always expecting to find a value then throw the exception if it is missing. The exception would mean that there was a problem.

If the value can be missing or present and both are valid for the application logic then return a null.

More important: What do you do other places in the code? Consistency is important.