How can i compare a string which is non null and empty

[Plissken.s at gmail.com]

Hi,

how can i compare a string which is non null and empty?


i look thru the string methods here, but cant find one which does it?

http://docs.python.org/lib/string-methods.html#string-methods

In java,I do this:
if (str != null) && (!str.equals("")) ....

how can i do that in python?