getServletContext() gives NullPointerException

[Tuna Töre]

When I try to invoke getServletContext() method it gives a null pointer exception ? What can be the reason ?


my web.xml extract
<servlet>
<servlet-name>TestingServlet</servlet-name>
<servlet-class>com.tt.serlvlets.TestingServlet</servlet-class>
</servlet>
<servlet-mapping>
<servlet-name>TestingServlet</servlet-name>
<url-pattern>/servlets/test.exe</url-pattern>
</servlet-mapping>

code extract

protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {


synchronized (getServletConfig().getServletContext()) {
System.out.println("INNNNNNNNNNNNNNN");
}


calling extract

<a href="/ApacheProject/servlets/test.exe?param2=read" >Application Variable Set</a>





11.Ara.2008 18:18:09 org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve invoke
SEVERE: Servlet.service() for servlet TestingServlet threw exception
java.lang.NullPointerException
at javax.servlet.GenericServlet.getServletContext(GenericServlet.java:160)
at com.tt.serlvlets.TestingServlet.doPost(TestingServlet.java:86)
at com.tt.serlvlets.TestingServlet.doGet(TestingServlet.java:41)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:617)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:717)

[cesar valencia]

doesn't seem like a problem with the servlet context, unless you've overriden service to service with doPost() only.

a link (as in href) will be serviced by doGet (normally). Try that first and let us know if it still throws Exception
[ December 11, 2008: Message edited by: cesar valencia ]

[Tuna Töre]

protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
//doPost(request, response);
synchronized (getServletConfig().getServletContext()) {
System.out.println("INNNNNNNNNNNNNNN");
}

}


I have called doPost in my previous code to call doPost!! However I comment it and tryed to call getServletContext() in doGet still I am getting NullPointerException.

11.Ara.2008 20:09:30 org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve invoke
SEVERE: Servlet.service() for servlet TestingServlet threw exception
java.lang.NullPointerException
at com.tt.serlvlets.TestingServlet.doGet(TestingServlet.java:42)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:617)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:717)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter


Furthermore I can call getServletContext() method without getting NullPointerException in other servlet , it works fine ??? + I didn't override service method!

[ December 11, 2008: Message edited by: Anut Walidera ]
[ December 11, 2008: Message edited by: Anut Walidera ]

[Charles Lyons]

Did you override the init(ServletConfig) method without calling super.init(ServletConfig)? The NPE is originating in GenericServlet.getServletContext(), which in turn calls getServletConfig()---the latter is setup upon initialisation by GenericServlet, and if you overrode that method but didn't set the variable yourself, it will still be null. If that doesn't do it, how about posting your entire Servlet class?

[Tuna Töre]

Charles Lyons

Thanks... Yes you are right...

I forgot that I chose to override option in my IDE than I realised with your saying that I didn't call super.init(ServletConfig) in my servlet class.

 public void init(ServletConfig config) throws ServletException {
super.init(config); //added this line then it worked
}   

Thank you for your valueable response...

[Charles Lyons]

For future reference, it's best to override only the init() method when extending GenericServlet (or HttpServlet), and not the init(ServletConfig). Then you can do your own initialisation without having to call superclass methods

[Tuna Töre]

Thanks...