Is there a way to return null instead of throwing a NullReferenceException?

Question

I have the following C# problem.

Consider the function:

private String getStringFromNullabel()
{
    var nullable = getClass();  // returns some object that could be null
    if( nullable != null)
    {
         return nullable.Text;
    }
    return null;
}

This works but it is verbose and I would rather write something like:

private String getStringFromNullabel()
{
    return NotThrowWrapper(getClass()).Text; 
}

This will throw if getClass() returns null. So I am looking for some syntax that is short enough that this stays a one-liner but rather returns null instead of throwing an exception.

Is there such a thing in C#?

`if( nullable != 0)` is not the way how you check for `null`. — Tim Schmelter, Feb 03 '16 at 15:42
if you want the code to fit in one line, you could use the ternary operator — S.Dav, Feb 03 '16 at 15:44
Try http://mattdufeu.co.uk/null-conditional-operators-in-c-6/ — DanL, Feb 03 '16 at 15:46
@CodeCaster: I was not sure what to search for, but "null instead of NullReferenceException" did not turn up much in the first pages. I am stuck with C# 5 so you say we have no solution here. — Knitschi, Feb 03 '16 at 15:48
@Knitschi correct, but like S.Dav said you could change it to `return nullable != null ? nullable.Text : null;` — juharr, Feb 03 '16 at 15:50
@Knitschi see [this one](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3468250/c-sharp-elegant-way-to-check-if-a-propertys-property-is-null), first hit on "C# prevent null checks". — CodeCaster, Feb 03 '16 at 15:51

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 03 '16 at 15:54

2

Pre C#6

private String GetStringFromNullabel()
{
 var nullable = getClass();  // returns some object that could be null
 return nullable  != null ? nullable .Text : null;
}

Post C# 6

private String GetStringFromNullabel()
{
 return getClass()?.Text;
}

Note that you should follow the .NET naming conventions

edited Feb 03 '16 at 15:54

Tim Schmelter

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answered Feb 03 '16 at 15:49

Blueberry

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2

With C#6 the whole method `GetStringFromNullabel` is pretty redundant. – Tim Schmelter Feb 03 '16 at 15:51
1

Agreed. In c#6 "getStringFromNullabel" is called "?". Plus it has a spelling mistake... :) – Blueberry Feb 03 '16 at 15:52

Is there a way to return null instead of throwing a NullReferenceException?

1 Answers1