Explicit vs. Implicit NULL Pointer Checks: Which Approach is Best?

Checking for NULL Pointers in C/C

In programming, it's crucial to handle NULL pointers correctly. Two common approaches for checking NULL pointers in C/C are:

• Explicit NULL comparison: if (some_ptr == NULL)
• Implicit NULL check: if (some_ptr)

Explicit NULL Comparison

This method explicitly compares the pointer value to NULL. It's clear and eliminates the risk of accidental assignment (e.g., if (some_ptr = NULL)). However, it relies on the definition of NULL, which can vary across compilers and platforms.

Implicit NULL Check

This method takes advantage of the fact that a NULL pointer evaluates to false in a conditional statement. It's concise and avoids relying on the definition of NULL. However, it may be less clear to developers who are new to C/C .

Preferred Approach

The preferred approach depends on the specific context.

In most cases, the implicit NULL check is recommended. It's concise, clear, and compatible with C classes that act as pointers (e.g., unique_ptr, shared_ptr).

However, if explicitness is paramount or if there's a concern about unintentional assignment, the explicit NULL comparison may be preferable.

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