Shortest code to throw a NullPointerException?

Question

Edit: Sorry about posting here instead of the codegolf stackexchange, didn't heard of that before. Anyway thanks for the answers!

Okey, we all know the normal way to throw a NullPointerException in Java:

throw new NullPointerException(); // 33 characters

But I am searching for shorter (as in less characters) ways to do so. The shortest I could get was

((Void)null).toString(); // 24 characters

How can we produce a java.lang.NullPointerException with even less code and without imports?

There must be a way!

This question appears to be off-topic because it belongs on codegolf.stackexchange.com. — rgettman, Sep 05 '14 at 22:40
Well if this could be called in a method: `Area a;a.clone();`. Would be 17 Characters. (java.awt.geom.Area) — Tom, Sep 05 '14 at 22:42
If this is "optimization", then you have a bizarre idea of what "optimal" means. — Stephen C, Sep 05 '14 at 22:44
@Tom Won't compile: "The local variable may not have been initialized" — Jim Garrison, Sep 05 '14 at 22:45
@JimGarrison ... mhh ... he didn't say, that the code should compile :P. — Tom, Sep 05 '14 at 22:46
@Tom yes he did. It can't throw an exception without compiling first. — Dawood ibn Kareem, Sep 06 '14 at 00:33
Sorry about posting here instead of the codegolf stackexchange, didn't heard of that before. — luckydonald, Sep 06 '14 at 17:59

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

4

For now shortest way I know is by

throw null;//11 characters

You can find more info about it at Why can I throw null in Java?

edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

Community

answered Sep 05 '14 at 22:50

Pshemo

1 Answers1