code: private static final boolean subPartMatch(String p, String t)
      {
          return (p == t) || ((null != p) && (p.equals(t)));
      }
docs: Tell if two strings are equal, without worry if the first string is null.
  
  @param p String reference, which may be null.
  @param t String reference, which may be null.
  
  @return true if strings are equal.