Pull Request resolves #47496.

• I read the Generative AI policy and my contribution is either not created with the help of AI or is compatible with the policy and GNU/GPL 2 or later.

Summary of Changes

AbstractView::getModel() accessed $this->_models[strtolower($name)] directly without checking whether the key exists. When getModel() is called with a model name that has not been registered via addModel(), PHP 8.x raises an undefined array key warning.

Fix: extract the key to a variable and use the null coalescing operator (?? null) instead of direct array access. Updated the @return docblock to reflect the nullable return type.

Testing Instructions

1. Create a view that extends AbstractView.
2. Call $view->getModel('nonexistent') without having called addModel() first.
3. Before fix: PHP Warning: Undefined array key "nonexistent"
4. After fix: Returns null silently, no warning.

Actual result BEFORE applying this Pull Request

PHP Warning: Undefined array key "" in libraries/src/MVC/View/AbstractView.php on line 197

Expected result AFTER applying this Pull Request

No PHP warning. getModel() returns null when the requested model has not been registered.

Link to documentations

• No documentation changes for guide.joomla.org needed
• No documentation changes for manual.joomla.org needed