FIO09-J. Do not rely on the write() method to output integers outside the range 0 to 255

The write() method, defined in the class java.io.OutputStream, takes an argument of type int the value of which must be in the range 0 to 255. Because a value of type int could be outside this range, failure to range check can result in the truncation of the higher-order bits of the argument.

The general contract for the write() method says that it writes one byte to the output stream. The byte to be written constitutes the eight lower-order bits of the argument b, passed to the write() method; the 24 high-order bits of b are ignored (see java.io.OutputStream.write() [API 2014] for more information).

Noncompliant Code Example

This noncompliant code example accepts a value from the user without validating it. Any value that is not in the range of 0 to 255 is truncated. For instance, write(303) prints / on ASCII-based systems because the lower-order 8 bits of 303 are used while the 24 high-order bits are ignored (303 % 256 = 47, which is the ASCII code for /). That is, the result is the remainder of the input divided by 256.

class ConsoleWrite {
  public static void main(String[] args) { 
    // Any input value > 255 will result in unexpected output
    System.out.write(Integer.valueOf(args[0]));
    System.out.flush();
  }
}

Compliant Solution (Range-Check Inputs)

This compliant solution prints the corresponding character only if the input integer is in the proper range. If the input is outside the representable range of an int, the Integer.valueOf() method throws a NumberFormatException. If the input can be represented by an int but is outside the range required by write(), this code throws an ArithmeticException.

class FileWrite {
  public static void main(String[] args)
                          throws NumberFormatException, IOException { 
    // Perform range checking  
    int value = Integer.valueOf(args[0]);
    if (value < 0 || value > 255) {
      throw new ArithmeticException("Value is out of range");
    }
  
    System.out.write(value);
    System.out.flush(); 
  }
}

Compliant Solution (writeInt())

This compliant solution uses the writeInt() method of the DataOutputStream class, which can output the entire range of values representable as an int:

class FileWrite {
  public static void main(String[] args)
                          throws NumberFormatException, IOException { 
    DataOutputStream dos = new DataOutputStream(System.out);
    dos.writeInt(Integer.valueOf(args[0].toString()));
    System.out.flush(); 
  }     
}

Risk Assessment

Using the write() method to output integers outside the range 0 to 255 will result in truncation.

Automated Detection

Automated detection of all uses of the write() method is straightforward. Sound determination of whether the truncating behavior is correct is not feasible in the general case. Heuristic checks could be useful.

Related Guidelines

Bibliography