I keep getting null reference exception

Unity Engine
,
1

I am currently trying to display player names on my unity game. The problem is when i use the following code below, i get a Null Reference Exception error.

LobbyController.FindLocalPlayer();
        LobbyController.UpdateLobbyName();

[code]

I tried to debug it by adding the Start() method below.

[code]
 void Start()
    {
        ControllerObject = GameObject.Find("LobbyController");
        LobbyController = ControllerObject.GetComponent<LobbyController>();  
    }
[code]

but even that hasn't worked. I checked in the inspector tab and the references aren't empty, so at this point idk what to do. Anyone know what the problem might be?
2

You’re sure about the line numbers, right? If you have a null reference in these lines of code:

LobbyController.FindLocalPlayer();
LobbyController.UpdateLobbyName();

That means LobbyController is null. Simple as that. You need to assign a value to it. If you add the line

LobbyController = ControllerObject.GetComponent<LobbyController>();

LobbyController could still be null if GetComponent is unsuccessful.

By the way, is LobbyController a component? If so do not also name your instance LobbyController. Having two things with the same name is going to cause problems.

3

The answer is always the same… ALWAYS!

How to fix a NullReferenceException error

https://forum.unity.com/threads/how-to-fix-a-nullreferenceexception-error.1230297/

Three steps to success:

  • Identify what is null ← any other action taken before this step is WASTED TIME
  • Identify why it is null
  • Fix that

ALSO THIS:

Remember the first rule of GameObject.Find():

Do not use GameObject.Find();

More information: https://starmanta.gitbooks.io/unitytipsredux/content/first-question.html

More information: https://discussions.unity.com/t/899843/12

In general, DO NOT use Find-like or GetComponent/AddComponent-like methods unless there truly is no other way, eg, dynamic runtime discovery of arbitrary objects. These mechanisms are for extremely-advanced use ONLY.
If something is built into your scene or prefab, make a script and drag the reference(s) in. That will let you experience the highest rate of The Unity Way™ success of accessing things in your game.