# NullPointerException with prefix query **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [November 12, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674 "2012-11-12T14:32:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Benoit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@Benoit](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Benoit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674/1 "2012-11-12T14:32:06Z")
I accidentally use boost syntax in a field of prefix query and got a NullPointerException. When doing the same with match query i simply got an empty answer so i suppose the behavior is not normal. Query and stack trace are in the following gist ... > Should i open an issue ? Regards. Benoît -- ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Male](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/chris_male/32/2607_2.png) [@Chris\_Male](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Chris_Male)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674/2 "2012-11-12T22:32:36Z")
I think we could probably do some better validation here and provide a better error message. I do think you should open an issue. On Tuesday, November 13, 2012 3:32:06 AM UTC+13, Benoît wrote: > I accidentally use boost syntax in a field of prefix query and got a > NullPointerException. > > When doing the same with match query i simply got an empty answer so i > suppose the behavior is not normal. > > Query and stack trace are in the following gist ... > [NullPointerException with prefix query · GitHub](https://gist.github.com/4059732) > > Should i open an issue ? > > Regards. > > Benoît -- ---
**Author:** ![Benoit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@Benoit](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Benoit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:31am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674/3 "2012-11-14T09:31:58Z")
On Monday, November 12, 2012 11:32:36 PM UTC+1, Chris Male wrote: > I think we could probably do some better validation here and provide a > better error message. I do think you should open an issue. Done. > > > I accidentally use boost syntax in a field of prefix query and got a NullPointer…Exception. > > When doing the same with match query i simply got an empty answer so i suppose the behavior is not expected. > > Query and stack trace are in the following gist ... https://gist.github.com/4059732 > > ES version is 0.19.10 > > Regards. > > Benoît -- ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Motov](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/igor_motov/32/45193_2.png) [@Igor\_Motov](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Igor_Motov)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674/4 "2012-11-14T15:24:23Z")
By the way, '^' doesn't have the same effect in prefix queries as it does in the query\_string and multi\_match queries. The query in your example simply tries to search the field with a strange name "field^2". If you want to boost this query, use "boost":2.0 parameter instead. On Wednesday, November 14, 2012 4:31:59 AM UTC-5, Benoît wrote: > On Monday, November 12, 2012 11:32:36 PM UTC+1, Chris Male wrote: > > > I think we could probably do some better validation here and provide a > > better error message. I do think you should open an issue. > > Done. > > [NullPointerException with prefix query · Issue #2408 · elastic/elasticsearch · GitHub](https://github.com/elasticsearch/elasticsearch/issues/2408) -- ---
**Author:** ![Benoit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@Benoit](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Benoit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674/5 "2012-11-14T16:27:38Z")
Hi, On Wednesday, November 14, 2012 4:24:24 PM UTC+1, Igor Motov wrote: > By the way, '^' doesn't have the same effect in prefix queries as it does > in the query\_string and multi\_match queries. The query in your example > simply tries to search the field with a strange name "field^2". If you want > to boost this query, use "boost":2.0 parameter instead. Of course i noticed this. I generate qdsl query from another syntax and got this error during development and so report it. Thank you for your answers. Benoît -- ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/nullpointerexception-with-prefix-query/9674/6 "2017-07-06T03:04:17Z")