Thread: Problems with ArrayList- gives me a NullPointerException and the program crashes

public Flask[] getArtifactsByBrand(String name){
    	 Flask[] myArray = new Flask[flasks.size()];
    	 Iterator<Flask> it= flasks.iterator();
 
    	  while(it.hasNext()){
 
                  System.out.print(it.next());
 
    	 }   
 
    	 if(flasks.contains(name)) {
    		 for(int i=0; i<myArray.length; i++) {
 
           	  System.out.println(myArray[i].toString());
           	  System.out.println(flasks.toString());
 
               }
    	 } 
               else {
            	   System.out.println("No flasks found");
               }
 
		 return myArray;     
 
     }

Well, this is my code. Now, I want to search for the brand name in the arraylist. When I search for the brand. it gives me the result and then the program crashes. Its gives me an NullPointerException.(I am guessing nothing's there) PLEASE HELP..I have been stuck on this problem for a whole

Enter Brand: ARgos
Flask [brand=ARgos, includedCups=9, isWatertight=true, capacity=9.0, intendedLiquid=water, hasInsulation=true, netWeight=9.0, isExhibited=false]No flasks found
 
 
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
	at museum.MuseumApplication.searchByBrand(MuseumApplication.java:160)
	at museum.MuseumApplication.run(MuseumApplication.java:54)
	at museum.MuseumApplication.main(MuseumApplication.java:31)

I have posted the error above along with the code

Well, The code in the museum application is correct. There should be nothing wrong with that. This is actually a project.they gave us a half written application. The code in the museumApplication was all written by the teachers. We just have to complete the methods the Museum.java. When I asked my teacher baou thr "NullPointerException" error he said, its because there is nothing in myArray. But, I wasn't sure what to do.