determine whether the element have text or not in it

[kanghao]

In SAX, Is it possible to determine whether the element have the text or not in it in startElement()?

I want the collapsed form of element like <EMPTY_ELEMENT/>
when the element have no text in it.

I have the form of <EMPTY_ELEMENT></EMPTY_ELEMENT>, because
I put
"<", element_name,">" in startElement(),
"" in characters(),
"</",element_name,">" in endElement().

I want to know in startElement() or in endElement() whether the elment have text in it.

Thanks.