Null Coalescing

Null coalescing is a programming concept that provides a concise way to handle null or undefined values by returning a default value when the primary expression evaluates to null or undefined. It is commonly implemented through operators like '??' in languages such as C#, JavaScript, and PHP, allowing developers to write cleaner and more readable code for null-safety checks. This concept helps prevent null reference errors and simplifies conditional logic in applications.

Also known as: Null Coalescing Operator, Nullish Coalescing, ?? Operator, Coalesce, Null Coalesce

Why learn Null Coalescing?

Developers should learn and use null coalescing when building applications that involve data from external sources, user inputs, or APIs where values might be missing or null, as it reduces boilerplate code and improves code maintainability. It is particularly useful in scenarios like configuration settings, database queries, or UI rendering where fallback values are needed to ensure application stability and avoid crashes due to null references.

Learning Resources

• docs: MDN Web Docs: Nullish coalescing operator (??)
• docs: Microsoft Docs: ?? and ??= operators (C# reference)
• tutorial: W3Schools: PHP Null Coalescing Operator
• video: YouTube: Null Coalescing Operator in JavaScript - Explained
• tutorial: FreeCodeCamp: How to Use the Null Coalescing Operator in C#