Handling null values is a common challenge in C# applications. Traditional null checking often involves long conditional statements that make the code look messy and harder to maintain. The null-propagator operator (?.), also known as the null-conditional operator, provides a clean and elegant way to handle nulls without writing repetitive if conditions. Introduced in C# 6.0, this operator allows you to safely access members or methods only when the object is not null. If the object is null, the expression simply returns null instead of throwing a NullReferenceException.

Example: Without Null Propagator

if (customer != null && customer.Address != null)
{
    Console.WriteLine(customer.Address.City);
}

With Null Propagator

Console.WriteLine(customer?.Address?.City);

In just one line, the code becomes shorter, cleaner, and safer. The null-propagator can also be used with methods, properties, arrays, events, and indexers, making it a powerful tool for writing robust applications.

Real Use Case

int? length = file?.Name?.Length;

If file is null, the result is simply null, avoiding errors.

The null-propagator operator helps developers improve readability and reduce boilerplate code — essential skills for interviews and professional development.

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