Util.java

/**
 * Check if the object is null or empty
 *
 * @param obj - the test object
 * @return true if the value is missing
 */
public static boolean isMissing(Object obj) {
    if (obj == null) return true;
    if (obj instanceof CharSequence) return (obj).toString().trim().length() < 1;
    if (obj instanceof Collection) return ((Collection) obj).size() < 1;
    if (obj instanceof Map) return ((Map) obj).size() < 1;
    // more to come
    return false; // default just check not null
}