code: public char[] getPasswordChars()
    {
      if (_password != null)
      {
        if (_password.length != 0)
        {
          char[] result = new char[_password.length];
          System.arraycopy(_password,0,result,0,_password.length);
          return result;
        }
        else
        {
          return _password; // Can safely return the empty array - caller can't change it!
        }
      }
      else
      {
        return null;
      }
    }
docs: /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------