Checking for null before ToString()

Question

Here\'s the scenario...

if (entry.Properties[\"something\"].Value != null)
  attribs.something = entry.Properties[\"something\"].Value.ToString();
<         


        

Answer 1

How about using an auxiliary method like this:

attribs.something = getString(
    entry.Properties["something"].Value, 
    attribs.something);

static String getString(
    Object obj,
    String defaultString)
{
    if (obj == null) return defaultString;
    return obj.ToString();
}

Alternatively, you could use the ?? operator:

attribs.something = 
    (entry.Properties["something"].Value ?? attribs.something).ToString();

(note the redundant ToString() call when the value is null)