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1Z0-811 Exception Handling and Development Tools Practice Question

Exhibit

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
    at com.example.MyClass.methodA(MyClass.java:25)
    at com.example.MyClass.main(MyClass.java:10)

Refer to the exhibit. A Java program throws a NullPointerException. Which is the most likely cause?

⚠ Common exam trap

Oracle often tests the distinction between compile-time errors (syntax, imports, classpath) and runtime exceptions (NullPointerException), trapping candidates who confuse a missing import or classpath issue with a null reference problem.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

An object not initialized before use

A NullPointerException is thrown when the JVM attempts to access a method or field on an object reference that is null. The most common cause is that the object was declared but never instantiated (e.g., `String s; s.length();`). This is a runtime exception, not a compile-time error, so it occurs during execution when the reference variable points to null.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
An object not initialized before use
Why this is correct
NullPointerException occurs when invoking a method or field on a null reference.
✗
A syntax error in the try block
Why it's wrong here
Syntax errors are caught at compile time.
✗
Incorrect classpath preventing class loading
Why it's wrong here
Classpath issues lead to ClassNotFoundException or NoClassDefFoundError, not NullPointerException.
✗
A missing import statement in the source code
Why it's wrong here
Missing imports cause compilation errors, not runtime NullPointerException.

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1Z0-811 Exception Handling and Development Tools Practice Question

Exhibit

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

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