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I have a method that searches a list of objects based on some of the fields of the object. If a matching object is found, I return it, but I want to be able to represent a no-match situation. Normally I'd return null but I'm working with a non-nullable class I cannot change.

Hui
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3 Answers3

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There are several options. Use a Nullable<T>, or return a bool and use an out parameter to get the actual result, e.g.:

MyType? FindObject() { }

Or:

bool FindObject(out MyType result) { }
Sven
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This situation can be handled by Null Pattern.

What confuse me is that you wrote that you return list of objects and then object. Could you give some details ?

Damian Leszczyński - Vash
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Can you throw an exception? NoObjectFoundException

gfelisberto
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  • This is not a good idea. Exceptions have quite a heavy performance impact and should not be be thrown as part of normal program flow (they are for exceptional situations only). – Sven Jun 07 '11 at 16:50