java - Array throwing nulls instead of Strings -

this array gets parameter bunch of words stored in array.

if array has 6 spaces has 4 words in it, new array must downsize 4 spaces, put example. if array has 6 spaces , no words in it, array must filled 4 spaces string "not found".

the problem i'm having array throwing nulls instead of putting "not found".

what can problem?

    public static void getallsynonyms(string[][] matrix, string wordtobefound) {     int arraylenght = 0;     string synonyms[] = new string[matrix[0].length];      (int = 0; < matrix.length; i++) {         (int j = 0; j < matrix[0].length; j++) {              if (matrix[i][j].equals(wordtobefound)) {                 (int k = 0; k < matrix[0].length; k++) {                      if (!matrix[i][k].equals("")) {                         synonyms[i] = matrix[i][k];                      } else {                         arraylenght = matrix[0].length - 1;                         synonyms[i] = "not found";                         int counter = 0;                         counter++;                     }                     system.out.println("" + synonyms[i]);                 }             }         }     }     string synonymsarray[] = new string[arraylenght];       (int = 0; <synonyms.length; i++) {         system.out.println(""+ synonyms[i]);              if (synonyms[i] != "not found") {             synonymsarray[counter2++] = synonyms[i];              }           }      } 

the nulls appear in second system.out.

this matrix.

string[][] matrix = {{"joe", "slim", "ed", "george"},     {"soto", "", "asdrubal", ""},     {"billy", "sanchez", "carlos", "fernando"}}; 

matrix.length =3, matrix[0].length =4

as iterate in outer loop until matrix.length, initialized synonyms string[matrix[0].length], synonyms[3] never reached , therefor null

edit: in rows of matrix searchword can't found , never set synonyms[i]. set in block

if (matrix[i][j].equals(wordtobefound)) { 

but if false, synonyms array never modified