code: public static boolean startsWith(Object target, String prefix) {
          if (target==null || prefix==null) return false;
          String targetTxt = target.toString();
          return targetTxt.length() > 0 && targetTxt.startsWith(prefix);
      }
docs: Returns true if the target string has a value and starts with the given prefix (null-safe).
  @param target    string to investigate
  @param prefix    substring to check for
  @return true if prefix starts in target