*     which case the input string is always returned.
   * @param padChar the character to insert at the beginning of the result until the minimum length
   *     is reached
   * @return the padded string
   */
  public static String padStart(String string, int minLength, char padChar) {
    checkNotNull(string); // eager for GWT.
    if (string.length() >= minLength) {
      return string;
    }