getString() null pointer exception

[inxas]

Trying to retrieve a specified name and match them from Database: Humans, Table: CONTACTS and Column NAME. This if statement throws null pointer exception which means it retrieves as a "null". System.out.println(rs.getString("NAME"); works fine, it gives all the names in the column. Any specific issues with getString or what? How can I compare these names? Thank you for your answers
Table looks like this:

ID NAME IP
1 John xxx.xxx.xxx
2 Dean xxx.xxx.xxx
.....

rs = st.executeQuery("SELECT NAME from Humans.CONTACTS;");

while (rs.next()) {
if (rs.getString("NAME").equalsIgnoreCase("john")) {
System.out.println("Found it!");
} else {
System.out.println("Not found");
}

[wsaryada]

Then you should check it to make sure that it doesn't return null in the first place.

while (rs.next()) {
    String name = rs.getString("NAME");
    if (name != null && name.equalsIgnoreCase("john")) {
        System.out.println("Found it!");
    } else {
        System.out.println("Not found");
    }
}

[Tolls]

Why not do that in the query itself?
It's usually a mistake to return the whole table and then search through the results.

[wsaryada]

Yes, why didn't I see that. It better just use the SQL where cluase to filter the data. Let the database return you only the data that you need.

[inxas]

What does it mean in query? Did you mean something like that?
String query = "SELECT NAME From Human.CONTACTS WHERE NAME REGEXP ?";

Also there is something called regular expression which is like search as i understand, just searching not for the exact word. Have not faced it before. Am I right?

[DarrylBurke]

Since that's no longer a Java question, you should look for a SQL forum, or one for your particular flavor of database.

db

[Tolls]

Where's REGEXP come from?
Your original question simply does an equalsIgnoreCase.

[inxas]

It was just the solution to the problem. Sorry for putting SQL in wrong place and thank you for your answers and advices.