How to avoid NullPointerException

How to avoid NullPointerException

   June 29, 2021       Ravi Yasas

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java.lang.NullPointerException

When can it be thrown?

According to the JavaDoc, the following scenarios can be found.

• Calling the instance method of a null object.
• Accessing or modifying the field of a null object.
• Taking the length of null as if it were an array.
• Accessing or modifying the slots of null as if it were an array.
• Throwing null as if it were a Throwable value.

How to avoid it?

• Use Optional in Java 8
• Call equals() and equalsIgnoreCase() methods on known objects.
• Use valueOf() over toString()

public class NullCheckDemo {

   public static void main(String args[]){

       Integer i = null;

       System.out.println(i.toString());      //This throws NullPointerException

       System.out.println(String.valueOf(i)); //This returns null

   }

}

• Use null-safe methods and libraries. Ex: Apache Commons StringUtils.
• Use @NotNull and @Nullable annotations
• Always check for nulls.

public class NullDemo {

    public static void main(String args[]){

        Integer i = null;

        if(i != null)

            System.out.println(i);

        else

            System.out.println("error occurred");

    }

}