instantiating array objects

[scias23]

i have this code.

numberPlayers = 2;
      players = new Player[numberPlayers];
      setName();
      setHand();

    private static void setName() {
        for(int i=0;i<numberPlayers;i++) {
            out.print("Player "+ i + " name: ");
            players[i].setName(in.nextLine());
            out.println();
        }
    }

    private static void setHand() {
        for(int i=0;i<numberPlayers;i++) {
            out.print("Player "+ i+1 + " hand: ");
            players[i].setName(in.nextLine());
            out.println();
        }
    }

but this gives me error:

ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS GAME
NOTE: hand input will loop until user(s) input(s) valid hand values
VALID HANDS: R-Rock, P-Paper, S-Scissors

Select your option below:

[1] Player vs Player
[2] Player vs Computer 1
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
at RPS2.Game.setName(Game.java:61)
at RPS2.Game.main(Game.java:37)
Player 0 name: Java Result: 1

what's wrong? i want to instantiate an array object named Player with two elements.

[masijade]

Initiating an array simply creates "holding spaces" for the elements. Each of those elements is, however, currently "null". If you expect to have a "Player" predefined at every element, then you need to loop over the array and create one in each spot. i.e.

String[] array = new String[5];
for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
  array[i] = "";
}

Edit: The default values for the array elements are as follows:

boolean[] --> false
int[], short[], float[], double[], long[], char[], byte[] --> 0
Object[] --> null