Java tutorial
//package com.java2s; import java.util.List; public class Main { public static <T> T getSingle(List<T> collection) { checkIsNull(collection); if (collection.size() != 1) { throw new IllegalArgumentException("The supplied collection must contain exactly one item."); } return getFirst(collection); } private static <T> void checkIsNull(List<T> collection) { if (collection == null) { throw new NullPointerException("The supplied collection is null."); } } public static <T> T getFirst(List<T> collection) { checkIsNull(collection); if (collection.size() < 1) { throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("The supplied collection is null or empty."); } return collection.get(0); } }