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274Primitives vs Reference Types: Fundamental Differences
275The Stack and the Heap: Where Variables Live
276The new Keyword: Allocating Objects on the Heap
277Reference Variables: Pointers to Objects
278Multiple References to the Same Object
279Assignment Semantics: Primitives vs References
280Default Values: Primitives vs References
281String: A Special Reference Type
282Arrays: Reference Types with Special Syntax
283Wrapper Classes: Boxing Primitives as Objects
284Understanding null: The Absence of a Reference
285NullPointerException: Causes and Prevention
286Reference Equality with ==: Comparing Memory Addresses
287Why == Fails for String Comparison
288The equals Method: Defining Object Equality
289Overriding equals: The Contract and Rules
290Common equals Implementation Patterns
291equals with Inheritance: Challenges and Solutions
292Testing for null with == and equals
293Objects.equals: Null-Safe Comparison Utility
294The Heap: Where Objects Live
295Object Allocation with new
296Stack vs Heap: References and Objects
297Object Reachability
298Garbage Collection Overview
299When Objects Become Eligible for GC
300The finalize Method (Deprecated)
301Memory Leaks in Java
302Weak, Soft, and Phantom References
303Best Practices for Object Lifetime Management

274Primitives vs Reference Types: Fundamental Differences
275The Stack and the Heap: Where Variables Live
276The new Keyword: Allocating Objects on the Heap
277Reference Variables: Pointers to Objects
278Multiple References to the Same Object
279Assignment Semantics: Primitives vs References
280Default Values: Primitives vs References
281String: A Special Reference Type
282Arrays: Reference Types with Special Syntax
283Wrapper Classes: Boxing Primitives as Objects
284Understanding null: The Absence of a Reference
285NullPointerException: Causes and Prevention
286Reference Equality with ==: Comparing Memory Addresses
287Why == Fails for String Comparison
288The equals Method: Defining Object Equality
289Overriding equals: The Contract and Rules
290Common equals Implementation Patterns
291equals with Inheritance: Challenges and Solutions
292Testing for null with == and equals
293Objects.equals: Null-Safe Comparison Utility
294The Heap: Where Objects Live
295Object Allocation with new
296Stack vs Heap: References and Objects
297Object Reachability
298Garbage Collection Overview
299When Objects Become Eligible for GC
300The finalize Method (Deprecated)
301Memory Leaks in Java
302Weak, Soft, and Phantom References
303Best Practices for Object Lifetime Management

Lesson 284 of 2,870·7. Reference Types and Object FundamentalsPro lesson

Understanding null: The Absence of a Reference

Learn what null means in Java, how it differs from primitives, and why uninitialized references default to null.

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