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null (C# Reference)

The null keyword is a literal that represents a null reference, one that does not refer to any object. null is the default value of reference-type variables. Ordinary value types cannot be null, except for nullable value types.

The following example demonstrates some behaviors of the null keyword:

class Program
{
    class MyClass
    {
        public static void MyMethod() { }
    }

    static void Main()
    {
        // Set a breakpoint here to see that mc = null.
        // However, the compiler considers it "unassigned."
        // and generates a compiler error if you try to
        // use the variable.
        MyClass mc;

        // Now the variable can be used, but...
        mc = null;

        // ... a method call on a null object raises
        // a run-time NullReferenceException.
        // Uncomment the following line to see for yourself.
        // mc.MyMethod();

        // Now mc has a value.
        mc = new MyClass();

        // You can call its method.
        MyClass.MyMethod();

        // Set mc to null again. The object it referenced
        // is no longer accessible and can now be garbage-collected.
        mc = null;

        // A null string is not the same as an empty string.
        string s = null;
        string t = string.Empty; // Logically the same as ""

        // Equals applied to any null object returns false.
        Console.WriteLine($"t.Equals(s) is {t.Equals(s)}");

        // Equality operator also returns false when one
        // operand is null.
        Console.WriteLine($"Empty string {(s == t ? "equals" : "does not equal")} null string");

        // Returns true.
        Console.WriteLine($"null == null is {null == null}");

        // A value type cannot be null
        // int i = null; // Compiler error!

        // Use a nullable value type instead:
        int? i = null;

        // Keep the console window open in debug mode.
    }
}

C# language specification

For more information, see the C# Language Specification. The language specification is the definitive source for C# syntax and usage.

See also

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