Servlet.service() for servlet jsp threw exception java.lang.NullPointerException

Question

i am getting below exception and tomcat hangs and my services are down.

SEVERE: Servlet.service() for servlet jsp threw exception
java.lang.NullPointerException
    at org.apache.jsp.search_005fresult_jsp._jspService(search_005fresult_jsp.java:86)
    at org.apache.jasper.runtime.HttpJspBase.service(HttpJspBase.java:70)
    at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:803)
    at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServletWrapper.service(JspServletWrapper.java:384)
    at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.serviceJspFile(JspServlet.java:320)
    at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:266)
    at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:803)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:290)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:206)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:228)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:175)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:128)
    at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:104)
    at org.apache.catalina.valves.RequestFilterValve.process(RequestFilterValve.java:276)
    at org.apache.catalina.valves.RemoteAddrValve.invoke(RemoteAddrValve.java:81)
    at org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve.invoke(AccessLogValve.java:517)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:109)
    at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:216)
    at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Processor.process(Http11Processor.java:844)
    at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Protocol$Http11ConnectionHandler.process(Http11Protocol.java:634)
    at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.JIoEndpoint$Worker.run(JIoEndpoint.java:445)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:619)
Sep 29, 2010 2:57:17 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationC

Answer 1

you are referencing a variable that is null in your search_005fresult.jsp which is causing an error in the compiled servlet file on line 86.

I would use a debugger and step through to find where the null variable is, or just look at the jsp it should relatively obvious.

Answer 2

You are trying to call a method on an object that is null

See, on line 86 of:

/path/to/tomcat/work/Catalina/localhost/yourAppName/org/apache/jsp/search_005fresult_jsp.java