Null Pointer in catch block

Question

I am using a try catch block to catch an exception. The console shows that it is throwing a null value. But it is not going to the catch block.

try {
        System.out.println("Exception here "+SomeObject.getValue());
    } catch (NullPointerException e) {
        // TODO: handle exception
        SomeObject so = new SomeObject();
    }
    SomeObject.setValue(); 
}

How could this be handled. Can I also use method level throws NullPointerException ?

Please post the stack trace and identify the line from which the exception is thrown. — Ted Hopp, Dec 23 '11 at 06:48
strange!! why to handle null pointer exception while null values should be handled by cheeking values for any null values — Umesh Awasthi, Dec 23 '11 at 06:50
What do you mean that the console shows it is throwing a null value? Your println is not in the catch block. — user949300, Dec 23 '11 at 06:50
Use exceptions in really exception cases. Provided code shows incorrect exception usage. Why not just check that `SomeObject` is null? — Slava Semushin, Dec 23 '11 at 06:54

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 23 '11 at 06:48

3

It indeed would have went inside the catch block. There is another potential NullPointerException at the line (assuming you are trying to say)

so.setValue();

Having said that it is not advised to throw RuntimeException. It is better you handle NullPointerException in your code not through try/catch but through simple condition checks

answered Dec 23 '11 at 06:48

bragboy

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From the statement `SomeObject so = new SomeObject()`, it appears that `SomeObject` is a class name. This would suggest that `setValue()` is a static (class) function. If there was a NPE thrown, it would be from inside that function, not from this statement. – Ted Hopp Dec 23 '11 at 06:51
@TedHopp : Agreed. Corrected answer – bragboy Dec 23 '11 at 06:51

Rajesh Pantula · Answer 2 · 2011-12-23T07:01:54.797

0

it is a bad idea to catch UnChecked Exceptions, rather than catching NullPointerExcetpion, you can simple check for null values in an If condition.

if(SomeObject.getValue()!=null)
System.out.println(SomeObject.getValue());

edited Dec 23 '11 at 07:01

answered Dec 23 '11 at 06:56

Rajesh Pantula

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 23 '11 at 07:10

You can put another try block inside catch

try {
    doSomething();
} catch (IOException) {
         try {
                  doSomething();
         } catch (IOException e) {
                 throw new ApplicationException("Failed twice at doSomething" +
                 e.toString());
         }          
} catch (Exception e) {
}

Null Pointer in catch block

3 Answers3