* Number value = first.or(0.5); // error
   * }</pre>
   *
   * <p>As a workaround, it is always safe to cast an {@code Optional<? extends T>} to {@code
   * Optional<T>}. Casting either of the above example {@code Optional} instances to {@code
   * Optional<Number>} (where {@code Number} is the desired output type) solves the problem:
   *
   * <pre>{@code

  }

  /**
   * Returns the empty multimap.
   *
   * <p><b>Performance note:</b> the instance returned is a singleton.
   */
  // Casting is safe because the multimap will never hold any elements.
  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  public static <K, V> ImmutableListMultimap<K, V> of() {
    return (ImmutableListMultimap<K, V>) EmptyImmutableListMultimap.INSTANCE;

   * Collections#emptyList}, and is preferable mainly for consistency and maintainability of your
   * code.
   *
   * <p><b>Performance note:</b> the instance returned is a singleton.
   */
  // Casting to any type is safe because the list will never hold any elements.
  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  public static <E> ImmutableList<E> of() {
    return (ImmutableList<E>) EMPTY;
  }

  /**

   *
   * <p><b>Warning:</b> {@code Range}s always represent a range of values using the values' natural
   * ordering. {@code NavigableMap} on the other hand can specify a custom ordering via a {@link
   * Comparator}, which can violate the natural ordering. Using this method (or in general using
   * {@code Range}) with unnaturally-ordered maps can lead to unexpected and undefined behavior.
   *

   * a view of the array; subsequent changes to the array will be reflected in the iterator.
   *
   * <p><b>Note:</b> It is often preferable to represent your data using a collection type, for
   * example using {@link Arrays#asList(Object[])}, making this method unnecessary.
   *
   * <p>The {@code Iterable} equivalent of this method is either {@link Arrays#asList(Object[])},