Using IntelliJ IDEA Postfix Completion Templates for Faster Java Coding

IntelliJ IDEA provides a highly useful feature called postfix completion (different from ordinary auto‑completion) that lets developers expand short expressions into full code templates by typing a dot (.) after an expression and selecting a suggestion.

To use it, place the cursor after an expression, press the dot key, and either type a hint or pick a candidate from the displayed list; each candidate is accompanied by a GIF demonstration.

1. var declaration – quickly creates a variable with inferred type.

2. null check – generates an if (obj != null) block.

3. notnull check – produces an if (obj == null) block.

4. nn check – another form of null‑check shortcut.

5. for loop – expands to a standard enhanced for loop for iterating collections.

6. fori loop – creates a classic indexed for loop.

7. not operator – inserts a logical NOT expression.

8. if condition – generates an if statement with a placeholder condition.

9. cast – inserts a type‑cast expression.

10. return – adds a return statement with a placeholder value.

The article concludes after demonstrating all ten templates.