spring-projects/spring-framework · error · NullValueInNestedPathException

Cannot access indexed value of property referenced in…

Error message

Cannot access indexed value of property referenced in indexed property path '{propertyName}': returned null

What it means

Thrown by getPropertyValue(PropertyTokenHolder) at the start of key application: ph.getValue() returned null, tokens.keys is non-null (indexed path), and autoGrowNestedPaths is false. Reading an index/key from a null container is impossible, so Spring raises NullValueInNestedPathException.

Solutions

Initialize the collection/map field to a non-null container.
Guard reads with a null check on the base property before using indexed syntax.
Enable autoGrowNestedPaths if you want reads to lazily create containers (note: autogrow on read can mutate the bean).
Return an empty collection from the getter instead of null.

Example fix

// before
private List<String> items; // null
wrapper.getPropertyValue("items[0]");

// after
private List<String> items = new ArrayList<>();
// or
Object base = wrapper.getPropertyValue("items");
if (base == null) return null;

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

BeanWrapper w = new BeanWrapperImpl(bean);
String base = path.substring(0, path.indexOf('['));
Object holder = w.getPropertyValue(base);
if (holder == null) {
    return null; // or w.setAutoGrowNestedPaths(true) then read
}
return w.getPropertyValue(path);

Type guard

static boolean safeToReadIndexed(BeanWrapper w, String path) {
    String base = path.substring(0, path.indexOf('['));
    return w.getPropertyValue(base) != null;
}

Try / catch

try {
    return wrapper.getPropertyValue(path);
} catch (NullValueInNestedPathException ex) {
    if (ex.getMessage().contains("returned null")) return null; // base container missing
    throw ex;
}

Prevention

Never leave collection/map fields null; initialize to empty containers.
Guard indexed reads with a null check on the base property.
Avoid autoGrow-on-read unless you intend to mutate the bean during reads.

When it happens

Trigger: getPropertyValue("items[0]") where getItems() == null and autoGrow is off.

Common situations: Reading a bound form field whose backing collection is uninitialized; querying nested state on a freshly built bean; defensive read paths that assume a value exists.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of spring-projects/spring-framework@69bf83ad71 (2026-08-09). Data as JSON: /api/errors/fc9b4da744aa83a7. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/AbstractNestablePropertyAccessor.java:613

	}

	@SuppressWarnings({"rawtypes", "unchecked"})
	protected @Nullable Object getPropertyValue(PropertyTokenHolder tokens) throws BeansException {
		String propertyName = tokens.canonicalName;
		String actualName = tokens.actualName;
		PropertyHandler ph = getLocalPropertyHandler(actualName);
		if (ph == null || !ph.isReadable()) {
			throw new NotReadablePropertyException(getRootClass(), this.nestedPath + propertyName);
		}
		try {
			Object value = ph.getValue();
			if (tokens.keys != null) {
				if (value == null) {
					if (isAutoGrowNestedPaths()) {
						value = setDefaultValue(new PropertyTokenHolder(tokens.actualName));
					}
					else {
						throw new NullValueInNestedPathException(getRootClass(), this.nestedPath + propertyName,
								"Cannot access indexed value of property referenced in indexed " +
										"property path '" + propertyName + "': returned null");
					}
				}
				StringBuilder indexedPropertyName = new StringBuilder(tokens.actualName);
				// apply indexes and map keys
				for (int i = 0; i < tokens.keys.length; i++) {
					String key = tokens.keys[i];
					if (value == null) {
						throw new NullValueInNestedPathException(getRootClass(), this.nestedPath + propertyName,
								"Cannot access indexed value of property referenced in indexed " +
										"property path '" + propertyName + "': returned null");
					}
					else if (value.getClass().isArray()) {
						int index = Integer.parseInt(key);
						value = growArrayIfNecessary(value, index, indexedPropertyName.toString());
						value = Array.get(value, index);
					}

View on GitHub (pinned to 69bf83ad71)