Question

The test code below leads to a “null pointer deference” bug on a String Array(on line 6). This leads to a NullPointerException.

public class TestString {
public static void main (String args[]) {
String test [] = null;
for (int i =0; i < 5; i++) {
  String testName = "sony" + i;
  test [k] = testName;
}
}
}

— How do I fix this?
— What is it that causes this bug?

Thanks,
Sony

Answer 1

You need to initialize your array like this, before :

test = new String[5];

Whenever you use an array, the JVM need to know it exists and its size.

In java there are many way to initialize arrays.

test = new String[5];

Just create an array with five emplacements. (You can’t add a sixth element)

test = new String[]{"1", "2"};

Create an array with two emplacements and which contains the values 1 and 2.

String[] test = {"1", "2"};

Create an array with two emplacements and which contains the values 1 and 2. But as you noticed it must be donne at the same time with array declaration.

In Java arrays are static, you specify a size when you create it, and you can’t ever change it.