RFR: 8164714: Constructor.newInstance creates instance of inner class with null outer class [v3]

Chen Liang liach at openjdk.org
Wed Mar 5 16:42:02 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
> <details><summary>Using <code>git</code></summary>
> 
> Checkout this PR locally: \
> `$ git fetch https://git.openjdk.org/jdk.git pull/23875/head:pull/23875` \
> `$ git checkout pull/23875`
> 
> Update a local copy of the PR: \
> `$ git checkout pull/23875` \
> `$ git pull https://git.openjdk.org/jdk.git pull/23875/head`
> 
> </details>
> <details><summary>Using Skara CLI tools</summary>
> 
> Checkout this PR locally: \
> `$ git pr checkout 23875`
> 
> View PR using the GUI difftool: \
> `$ git pr show -t 23875`
> 
> ...

Chen Liang has updated the pull request with a new target base due to a merge or a rebase. The incremental webrev excludes the unrelated changes brought in by the merge/rebase. The pull request contains three additional commits since the last revision:

 - Merge branch 'master' of https://github.com/openjdk/jdk into fix/enclosing-this-null-check
 - Fix javap test
 - 8164714: Constructor.newInstance creates instance of inner class with null outer class

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

Changes:
  - all: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/23875/files
  - new: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/23875/files/3778a3ce..9251340a

Webrevs:
 - full: https://webrevs.openjdk.org/?repo=jdk&pr=23875&range=02
 - incr: https://webrevs.openjdk.org/?repo=jdk&pr=23875&range=01-02

  Stats: 7549 lines in 150 files changed: 4891 ins; 1304 del; 1354 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


More information about the compiler-dev mailing list