why not nullpointer exception?

[saikrishna cinux]

public class returnNull{
 static String myName="SCJP";
 
public returnNull getMyClass(){
System.out.println(myName);
return null;
}
 
public static void main(String args[]){
 
System.out.println(new returnNull().getMyClass().myName);
 
}}

hi here getMyClass is returning null but it is not throwing nullpointer exception ?

why?

[Neelesh Bodas]

because myName is a static member of the class. The fact that java allows you to reference a static member using the instance of the class is simply a syntactic sugar, it doesnot use the instance reference to retrive the value of the member
[ August 23, 2006: Message edited by: Neelesh Bodas ]

[Gowher Naik]

public class returnNull{
  static String myName="SCJP"; //line 2
public static void main(String args[]){
returnNull r1=new returnNull();
r1=null;
System.out.println(r1.myName);
}
}

Check code above
Run above code as it is and see output
Remove static keyword at line 2 and run above code and see output

[Kaush Kane]

public class returnNull{
static String myName="SCJP"; //line 2
public static void main(String args[]){
returnNull r1=new returnNull();
r1=null;
System.out.println(r1.myName);
}
}

I tried running the above code. I m getting the o/p as "SCJP" and not Null pointer exception. Could you explain me why???

[Jon Lee]

Neelesh Bodas has already given the answer......

[Gowher Naik]

public class returnNull{
  static String myName="SCJP"; 
public static void main(String args[]){
returnNull r1=new returnNull();
r1=null;
System.out.println(returnNull.myName);//using class name to access      //myName Variable
System.out.println(r1.myName);//Effect of this line is same   
                                      //as line 6        
    }
}
 

As we know static variables or static methods can be executed by class
name also so The compiler replaces line System.out.println(r1.myName);
as System.out.println(returnNull.myName); this is why there is no null
point exception.
Check the code above