How to convert DateTime? to DateTime

Question

I want to convert a nullable DateTime (DateTime?) to a DateTime, but I am getting an error:

Cannot implicitly convert type

Answer 1

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.HasValue ? _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value : DateTime.Now;

Answer 2

You want to use the null-coalescing operator, which is designed for exactly this purpose.

Using it you end up with this code.

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate ?? DateTime.Now;

Answer 3

You need to call the Value property of the nullable DateTime. This will return a DateTime.

Assuming that UpdatedDate is DateTime?, then this should work:

DateTime UpdatedTime = (DateTime)_objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate == null ? DateTime.Now : _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value;

To make the code a bit easier to read, you could use the HasValue property instead of the null check:

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.HasValue
                          ? _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value
                          : DateTime.Now;

This can be then made even more concise:

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate ?? DateTime.Now;

Answer 4

You can use a simple cast:

DateTime dtValue = (DateTime) dtNullAbleSource;

As Leandro Tupone said, you have to check if the var is null before

Answer 5

Consider using the following which its far better than the accepted answer

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate == null 
    ? DateTime.Now : (DateTime)_objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate;

Answer 6

Try this:

DateTime UpdatedTime = (DateTime)_objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate == null ? DateTime.Now : _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value;