RE: null to zero?

hello.

it seems that a null value in an integer (int4) column gets converted to
zero at some point...is this accurate?  i look in the db and see null
(queried using IS NULL to make sure), but i call an rs.getObject(colName)
and get a java.lang.Integer with a value of zero...is this in jdbc or java?
an Integer can BE null, but it cannot have a value of null...

didn't see anything in the archives...

thanks
chris