RFR: 8164714: Constructor.newInstance creates instance of inner class with null outer class [v2]

Chen Liang liach at openjdk.org
Wed Mar 5 15:12:28 UTC 2025


> The Java Language Specification anticipates that inner classes always have non-null enclosing instances. It ensures the non-nullness by enforcing null checks at the use sites that provides immediately enclosing instances to inner class constructors, such as for super invocations, or an `outer.new Inner()` invocation.
> 
> However, the translations do not require a null check in the actual constructor, when the immediately enclosing instance is received through a mandated parameter and stored into a synthetic field or discarded.  As a result, class file constructs, such as core reflection, method handles, or arbitrary class files can pass in `null` for the immediately enclosing instance, and later execution may fail with NPE by chance if any enclosing instance is used.
> 
> This patch proposes to add a null check against the "outer this" in inner class constructors that call a superclass constructor, including when the "outer this" is discarded immediately thereafter (#4966) for consistency. This null check will be emitted regardless of source or target versions. This change is considered an implementation artifact like the synthetic field that captures the enclosing instance; as a result, there is no JLS change.
> 
> The reason for this eager NPE decision is that there is no compatibility of such NPE behaviors - any evolution of the inner classes constructed with null enclosing instances may suddenly start using an enclosing instance and fail with NPE. Therefore, there's no compatibility aspect in such out-of-spec usages of passing `null` as immediately enclosing instance, and this null check can be considered such an evolution.
> 
> ---------
> ### Progress
> - [ ] Change must be properly reviewed (1 review required, with at least 1 [Reviewer](https://openjdk.org/bylaws#reviewer))
> - [x] Change must not contain extraneous whitespace
> - [x] Commit message must refer to an issue
> - [ ] Change requires CSR request [JDK-8351274](https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8351274) to be approved
> 
> 
> 
> ### Reviewing
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> `$ git checkout pull/23875`
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> Update a local copy of the PR: \
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> ...

Chen Liang has updated the pull request incrementally with one additional commit since the last revision:

  Fix javap test

-------------

Changes:
  - all: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/23875/files
  - new: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/23875/files/3ba5e715..3778a3ce

Webrevs:
 - full: https://webrevs.openjdk.org/?repo=jdk&pr=23875&range=01
 - incr: https://webrevs.openjdk.org/?repo=jdk&pr=23875&range=00-01

  Stats: 17 lines in 2 files changed: 1 ins; 0 del; 16 mod
  Patch: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/23875.diff
  Fetch: git fetch https://git.openjdk.org/jdk.git pull/23875/head:pull/23875

PR: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/23875


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