In Java, is null an existing object on the heap?

Question

In Java, is null an existing object on the heap?

I'm trying to understand the difference between an uninitialized local variable (what does not compile) and one initialized with null (what compiles).

Answer 1

See here:

The Java IAQ: Infrequently Answered Questions: Is null an Object?

Answer 2

Or, to save you the clicking, the answer is no, it is not an object. Being null means that no object is referenced.