Java: Why aren't NullPointerExceptions called NullReferenceExceptions?

Question

Was this an oversight? Or is it to do with the JVM?

Answer 1

I guess it has to do with the fact that the JVM is coded in C++. Apart from that, pointers and references are nearly similar. You could say that the reference mechanism in Java is implemented using C++ pointers and the name 'NullPointerException' allows that implementation detail to shine through.