Why java complains about
// int i;
if( i == null ){ }
and not about
// Integer i;
if( i == null ){ }
Add a comment
|
4 Answers
Because Integer is a reference type, and an int is not - that is, as int is not a pointer, it cannot point to nothing.
Comments
int (primitive type) can't be null
Comments
Because int is a primitive type , while Integer is its wrapper class .
Said differently, int is a value type (and as such cannot be null) while Integer is a reference type (and as such can be null).
In Java, every primitive type (such as boolean, double or char) is a value type. Since primitive types do not inherit from Object, a set of "wrapper classes" is offered (Boolean, Double, Character to name a few) when such behavior is needed (like, for instance, putting them in containers, or using them as generic type parameters).
The result is that primitive types really are second class citizens in Java.
answered Oct 2, 2011 at 16:53
Etienne de Martel
37.2k10 gold badges95 silver badges119 bronze badges
Comments
Because int is a value type and it cannot be null - it's the object itself. Integer, on the other hand, is a reference type and can be null or hold a reference to an object.
