> ## `NullPointerException` thrown in `java.awt.Graphics.drawString()`

> ###
> Symptoms

> > When running an applet in a browser using the Sun JRE, a `NullPointerException` is thrown by the `java.awt.Graphics.drawString()`method. The same applet runs under the Microsoft VM.

> ### Cause

> > This exception is caused by passing a null string to the `Graphics.drawString()` method in the Sun JRE.

> > The Java class libraries in the Sun JRE have changed over time. Some APIs have been clarified, some have been deprecated, and some have had their implementation altered.

> > The result of passing a null string to the `Graphics.drawString()` method was not well defined, and the Microsoft VM treats null as an empty string. However, the implementation in the Sun JRE does not accept null as a valid string, thus resulting in a `NullPointerException`.

> ### Resolution

> > Code defensively to ensure only a non-null string is passed to the `drawString()` method. For example, the following code

> > > `Graphics g = getGraphics();
> > > g.drawString(s, 100, 100);`

> > should be changed to:

> > > `Graphics g = getGraphics();
> > > if (s !== null) {`
> > > `g.drawString(s, 100, 100);
> > > }`

### Related Information

N/A