/**
 * @param {?string} str
 * @return {boolean} Whether the given string is null or is the empty string.
 * @public
 */
Platform.stringIsNullOrEmpty = function(str) {
  return !str;
};


/**
 * @param {?string} str
 * @return {string} Original str, if it is non-null. Otherwise empty string.
 */
Platform.nullToEmpty = function(str) {
  return str || "";
};


/**
 * @param {?string} str

   *
   * @param string a string reference to check
   * @return {@code true} if the string is null or is the empty string
   */
  public static boolean isNullOrEmpty(@Nullable String string) {
    return Platform.stringIsNullOrEmpty(string);
  }

  /**
   * Returns a string, of length at least {@code minLength}, consisting of {@code string} prepended
   * with as many copies of {@code padChar} as are necessary to reach that length. For example,