CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#type-conversionnullable
Kevin DiTraglia
Kevin DiTraglia

Reputation: 26058

Converting to Nullable Type without extra method

Is writing something like this kosher? Or are there problems that may arise?

private DateTime? getDate(object date)
{
    return date != null ? Convert.ToDateTime(date) : (DateTime?)null;
}

I've seen a lot of questions asking a similar question, but the answer is always given an extension method that does the job of converting, I was wondering if I could skip that step and write like this, or is there some edge case I am not accounting for?

Also I'm using DateTime in the example, but I would think this could work for any nullable type.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 123

Answers (1)

Magnum
Magnum

Reputation: 1595

Since the ? is a type of Nullable<T>, it is completely fine and 'kosher' as long as you are aware of the actual return type. It is as if you are writing the method as: 

private Nullable<DateTime> getDate(object date)
{
   ...
}

As long as you are aware the below won't work because the return types will differ:

DateTime myDateTimeVariable = getdate(someObject); because it's a type conversion problem.

You can see this for another explaination: Nullable DateTime?

Upvotes: 1

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