Object vs Reference in Java

Question

In Java, if I declare,

MyClass obj;

Is obj called a \"reference\" or an \"object\". I am not instantiating class here.

Answer 1

obj is a Reference to an instance of MyClass.

Currently, that Reference is NULL because you haven't assigned it to refer to any instance.

Technically MyClass must be a subclass of Object, so it is possible to say that obj is a Reference to an instance of Object as well.