Wrappers with null
Unlike primitives, a wrapper variable can be uninitialized and has a value of null. A primitive variable that is not initialized is automatically set to its default value (0 in the case of ints). Since wrappers can have null values, this allows us to test if it has been set before using it (unlike primitives). In this exercise, we see the difference in uninitialized primitives and wrapper objects.
This exercise is part of the course
Data Types and Exceptions in Java
Exercise instructions
- Declare a variable of type
intcalledxbut do not set its value. - Declare a variable of type
Integercalledybut do not set its value. - Display (print) the value of
xeven though you did not initialize its value. - Test if
yisnull.
Hands-on interactive exercise
Have a go at this exercise by completing this sample code.
public class NullWithWrappers {
// Declare a primitive integer called x
static ____ ____;
// Declare a wrapper Integer called y
static ____ ____;
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Display x value
____.____.____(____);
System.out.println(y);
// Check if y has been initialized and is null
if (____ ____ ____) {
System.out.println("y is not initialized so take corrective steps here");
}
}
}