java - Is getOrCreate function a good or a bad practice? -

in code (hypothetical) i'd use getorcreate function. pass parameters , either new entity or existing entity database, if such entity exists.

from 1 point of view wrong approach, because function should not more 1 thing. point of view single operation, not have proper word in english , can reduce duplicities in code.

so using approach or bad practice? , why?

it's function. instance of class.

it doesn't matter outside world how function works internally.

    public object getobject(int key) {         object object = getobjectfromdatabase(key);         if (object == null) {             object = createobject(key);             writeobjecttodatabase(key, object);         }         return object;     } 

every method has 1 function.

edited add: people @ methods inside out. that's need when you're writing code method. recognized getobject method had several things object.

however, when you're naming method, @ method outside. why getobject method "gets object" (pretty short javadoc description). if can't write simple declarative sentence describing function of method, method possibly complicated.