False positive hint "Return of Array field" #9753

Apache NetBeans version

Apache NetBeans 32 latest release candidate

What happened

If there is a field declaration

private static final int[] TEST = new int[0];
// and method

public int[] test() {
  return TEST;
} 

I can see "Return of Array field" hint.
However, for a final variable with zero length (often used as a static constant), it is questionable whether this is truly a problem. This field is thread-safe and, for all practical purposes, behaves like an immutable object (except, of course, that it can be synchronized)."

I have a patch for this if we want to fix it...

Language / Project Type / NetBeans Component

Java

How to reproduce

public class Test {
  private static final int[] TEST = new int[0];
  // private static final int[] TEST = new int[] {};

  public static int[] getTest() {
    return TEST;
 }
}

Did this work correctly in an earlier version?

No / Don't know

Operating System

Fedora Silverblue 44

JDK

openjdk 27

Apache NetBeans packaging

Other

Anything else

No response

Are you willing to submit a pull request?

Yes