diff --git a/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/shared/basic/utils/StringUtils.java b/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/shared/basic/utils/StringUtils.java
index adde9d81d68c87ec9c59813f327904880c005be6..2f15390bc5608542f26657af6a1f372f8d304f25 100644
--- a/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/shared/basic/utils/StringUtils.java
+++ b/common/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/common/shared/basic/utils/StringUtils.java
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ public final class StringUtils
         return value == null || value.trim().length() == 0;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Whether given <var>value</var> is blank or not.
+     */
+    public static final boolean isBlank(final Object value)
+    {
+        return value == null || value.toString().trim().length() == 0;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Whether given <var>value</var> is not blank.
      */