Java: Catch uninitialized variable

Question

Suppose we have a case where a variable is declared in certain conditions:

if (x = 1)
 boolean z = true;

Later on, we'd like to test if the variable z exists with try-catch. Is this possible and if so, what exception should we catch?

try {
 if (z)
  //do smth
} catch (<exception?> ex) {
 //do smth_else
}

Of course it would be possible to declare z before and change it's value accordingly in if block, but just hypothetically, is the above possible in Java? Python for example has NameError that will be raised when accessed local or global variable is not declared.

Thanks!

HSI.

Its not possible in java

Subhrajyoti Majumder
– Subhrajyoti Majumder

2012-12-04 10:13:35 +00:00
Commented Dec 4, 2012 at 10:13 — Subhrajyoti Majumder
– Subhrajyoti Majumder, Commented Dec 4, 2012 at 10:13

Adam Arold · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-04 10:13:51Z

2

What if you declared your variable like this:

Boolean x = null;

In that case you could check for it being null or not.

An even better alternative would be using an enum to represent the uninitialized value:

public enum MyEnum {
    UNINITIALIZED, TRUE, FALSE;
}

because if you will try to maintain your code several months later you (or someone else) may be puzzled about the Boolean being null.

answered Dec 4, 2012 at 10:13

Adam Arold

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3 Comments

Narendra Pathai Over a year ago

Boolean itself has Boolean.TRUE object why not use it?

Adam Arold Over a year ago

Check my last sentence and this question.

Adam Arold Over a year ago

Yep, it took some time till I got used to it. :)

vishal_aim · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-04 10:17:47Z

2

we'll get compilation error if the variable we are using is not declared or is not visible in current scope. If it is declared we can check for NullPointerException if that was object. In case of primitive data types we should check for default values.

answered Dec 4, 2012 at 10:17

vishal_aim

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Comments

assylias · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-04 10:13:38Z

1

Suppose we have a case where a variable is declared in certain conditions:

Well it is difficult to assume because that would not compile:

you should use == to test for equality
you can't declare a variable in an if statement unless there is a block

Now assuming you enclose that declaration inside a block, the scope of that variable would be that block and you wouldn't be able to use it in your try / catch block (unless it is inside the if block of course, but I don't think that's what you want).

answered Dec 4, 2012 at 10:13

assylias

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1 Comment

HSI Over a year ago

That explains the case. Variable simply does not exist outside if block and so try-catch would not make sense.

piokuc · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-04 10:13:35Z

0

No, this is not possible in Java. You have to have the variable declared before you can refer to it, otherwise you will get a compilation error.

answered Dec 4, 2012 at 10:13

piokuc

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Comments

Narendra Pathai · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-04 10:14:06Z

0

Boolean z = null;
if (x = 1){
  z = true;
}


if(z == null){
 //not initialized

}else{
  //initialized
}

answered Dec 4, 2012 at 10:14

Narendra Pathai

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Comments

user1852036 · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-04 17:11:34Z

0

it's not possible, Java is a strongly typed programming language because every variable must be declared with a data type before it can be used.

int x = 1;
boolean z = null;

if (x == 1)
 z = true;

try {
 if (z)
  //do smth
} catch (NullPointerException npe ) {
 //do smth_else
}

answered Dec 4, 2012 at 17:11

user1852036

Comments

user1837224 · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-13 12:19:50Z

0

So far I understand , you wont be able to compile this piece of code. I can not remember any exception class but what I think is even if you "Invent" exception for this type of error. It won't compile. Because default values of primitive types are assigned to uninitialized class variables called fields but for variable used in method body, it gives compile time error

answered Aug 13, 2015 at 12:19

user1837224

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