This commit introduces null-safe support for java.util.Optional in the
following SpEL operators:
- PropertyOrFieldReference
- MethodReference
- Indexer
- Projection
- Selection
- Elvis
Specifically, when a null-safe operator is applied to an empty
`Optional`, it will be treated as if the `Optional` were `null`, and
the subsequent operation will evaluate to `null`. However, if a
null-safe operator is applied to a non-empty `Optional`, the subsequent
operation will be applied to the object contained in the `Optional`,
thereby effectively unwrapping the `Optional`.
For example, if `user` is of type `Optional<User>`, the expression
`user?.name` will evaluate to `null` if `user` is either `null` or an
empty `Optional` and will otherwise evaluate to the `name` of the
`user`, effectively `user.get().getName()` for property access.
Note, however, that invocations of methods defined in the `Optional`
API are still supported on an empty `Optional`. For example, if `name`
is of type `Optional<String>`, the expression `name?.orElse('Unknown')`
will evaluate to "Unknown" if `name` is an empty `Optional` and will
otherwise evaluate to the `String` contained in the `Optional` if
`name` is a non-empty `Optional`, effectively `name.get()`.
Closes gh-20433
68fce29ae9