Specify default value for a reference type

Question

As I understand default(object) where \'object\' is any reference type always returns null, but can I specify what a default is? For instance, I want default(object) == new

Answer 1

Sorry, I'm not Jon Skeet...

But anyway, the answer is "no you can't"

Answer 2

No. default(type) will always return the same thing - a "zero'ed out" version of that type. For a reference type, this is a handle to an object that is always set with a value of zero - which equates to null. For a value type, this is always the struct with all members set to zero.

There is no way to override this behavior - the language specification is designed this way.

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Edit: As to your comment:

Just to be able to say FirstOrDefault() and never get a null.

I would not recommend this in any case. Users expect FirstOrDefault() to return null on failure. It would be better to write your own extension method:

static T FirstOrNewInstance<T>(this IEnumerable<T> sequence) where T : class, new()
{
     return sequence.FirstOrDefault() ?? new T();
}