Why does java.util.ArrayList allow to add null?

Posted by Alfredo O on Programmers See other posts from Programmers or by Alfredo O
Published on 2012-09-03T14:30:44Z Indexed on 2012/09/03 15:50 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 272

Filed under:

java

I wonder why java.util.ArrayList allows to add null. Is there any case where I would want to add null to an ArrayList?

I am asking this question because in a project we had a bug where some code was adding nulls to the List and it was hard to spot where the bug was. Obviously a NullPointerException was thrown but not until another code tried to access the element. The problem was how to locate the code that added the null object. It would have been easier if the ArrayList throwed an exception in the code where the elements was being added.

Related posts about java

Tomcat 6: Access Control Exception?

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm trying to setup a tomcat6 server, and I'm trying to match another setup someone else established. However, my deployment (default Ubuntu install) uses a policy.d/ directory structure, and the established server just uses a catalina.policy file. I've tried setting every entry in policy.d to match… >>> More
Problem in creation MDB Queue connection at Jboss StartUp

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
I am not able to create a Queue connection in JBOSS4.2.3GA Version & Java1.5, as I am using MDB as per the below details. I am putting this MDB in a jar file(named utsJar.jar) and copied it in deploy folder of JBOSS, In the test env. this MDB works well but in another env. [ env settings and… >>> More
failing to establish connection between Postgres db and gwt

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hi, I am using Postgres and gwt 2.0 for one of my applications. I am facing problem connecting to the database. When I try to connect it gives "ClassNotFoundException". Here is what I get when I try to connect to database: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.postgresql.Driver at java.net… >>> More
failing to establish connection between postgre db and gwt

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hi, For i am using postgre and gwt 2.0 for one of my applications. I am facing problem connecting to the database. When i try to connect it gives "ClassNotFoundException". Here is what i get when i try to connect to database: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.postgresql.Driver at java.net… >>> More
Migration and deployement problems JBoss 4.2.2.GA to JBoss 6.0.0.M2

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hi, I'm trying to migrate an application running on JBoss 4.2.2.GA to JBoss 6.0.0.M2 I give you some log to explain my problem : boot.log : 2010-03-16 09:59:29,406 ERROR [org.jboss.system.server.profileservice.ProfileServiceBootstrap] (Thread-2) Failed to load profile: Summary of incomplete deployments… >>> More

Developer IT