Java - removing first character of a string

Navigating through edge cases

Battling against the ghostly empty strings

Fight off the phantom empty strings before you execute substring(1). Ghostly strings can scare your code into exceptions:

if (!str.isEmpty()) {
    str = str.substring(1); // "Ghost busted!" - Venkman, probably.
}
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Sneaky conditional removals

Sometimes, you want to leave behind the first character only if it's as unwanted as a mutiny. Set a lookout with startsWith and use the ternary operator to decide its fate:

str = str.startsWith("#") ? str.substring(1) : str; // The ternary operator - quick as a pirate's cutlass.
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Targeting the first 'X marks the spot'

To vanish the first occurrence of a particular character, trust the old map replaceFirst:

str = str.replaceFirst("a", ""); // Wait, we've got too many 'a's. That one's gotta walk the plank.
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The all-seeing 'replace'

To make all instances of a character walk the plank, summon the all-powerful replace:

str = str.replace("a", ""); // 'a's? In this economy? Out you go.
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Advanced techniques for seasoned sailors

Smooth sailing with StringBuilder

Navigate mutable strings, by using StringBuilder as your trusty compass:

StringBuilder reliableCompass = new StringBuilder("Example");
reliableCompass.deleteCharAt(0); // "xample", lost an 'E' there, but the compass always points to 'x'am!
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Mastering the unpredictable seas of Unicode

Sail the choppy waters of Unicode and special characters with the right map to handle surrogate pairs:

String newLands = "😊Example";
newLands = newLands.offsetByCodePoints(0, 1).substring(1); // Unicode - Makes total sense if you don't think about it.
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Navigating the whirlpool of performance

Rapidly performing operations in a maelstrom-like loop? Lower the anchor and consider your strategy for riding the storm:

for (int i = 0; i < bigListOfAdventures.size(); i++) {
    bigListOfAdventures.set(i, bigListOfAdventures.get(i).substring(1)); // That's one way to get rid of excess baggage!
}
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