RichFaces File Upload throws NullPointerException

javax.faces.el.EvaluationException: /profile.xhtml @49,25 fileUploadListener="#{editProfileAction.uploadListener}": java.lang.NullPointerException
at com.sun.facelets.el.LegacyMethodBinding.invoke(LegacyMethodBinding.java:73) [:1.1.15.B1]

The method which is bound to EL #{editProfileAction.uploadListener} in profile.xhtml, at line 49, starting at character 25, has thrown a NullPointerException. You should see the detail further in the stacktrace, starting with "Caused by" or "Root cause" (which you omitted in your question). The first line of that part should contain the exact line number where the NPE is been thrown in the uploadListener() method of the backing bean class behind #{editProfileAction} managed bean. Go to this line number in your code, you'll see something similiar as:

someObject.someMethod();

To be precise, concentrate on the field/method access/invocation using the dot . operator. A NPE on such a line simply means that the object reference on which the dot . operator is been used is null. You cannot access fields or invoke methods using the dot . operator on an object reference which points to null. It would only throw a NPE. There are basically two ways to fix this:

1. Skip access/invocation when the reference is null. So do it only when it is guaranteed to be not null.

   if (someObject != null) {
       someObject.someMethod();
   }
   

2. Ensure that it is never null by instantiating it.

   if (someObject == null) {
       someObject = new SomeObject();
   }
   someObject.someMethod();
   

Which way would be the right solution depends on the sole functional requirement and the context of the code.