Assignment used as condition

Reports assignments that are used as a condition of an if, while, for, or do statement, or a conditional expression.

Although occasionally intended, this usage is confusing and may indicate a typo, for example, = instead of ==.

The quick-fix replaces = with ==.

Example:

  void update(String str, boolean empty) {
    // Warning: 'empty' is reassigned,
    // not compared to str.isEmpty()
    if (empty = str.isEmpty()) {
      ...
    }
  }

After the quick-fix is applied:

  void update(String str, boolean empty) {
    if (empty == str.isEmpty()) {
      ...
    }
  }

Locating this inspection

By ID

Can be used to locate inspection in e.g. Qodana configuration files, where you can quickly enable or disable it, or adjust its settings.

AssignmentUsedAsCondition

Via Settings dialog

Path to the inspection settings via IntelliJ Platform IDE Settings dialog, when you need to adjust inspection settings directly from your IDE.

Settings or Preferences | Editor | Inspections | Java | Assignment issues

Inspection Details
By default bundled with:	IntelliJ IDEA 2024.3, Qodana for JVM 2024.3,
Can be installed with plugin:	Java, 243.26483

01 April 2025