c# shorthand for if not null then assign value

Matt picture Matt · Jun 6, 2019 · Viewed 14.3k times · Source

Is there any shorthand in c# now that will cutdown the following code:

var testVar1 = checkObject();
if (testVar1 != null)
{
      testVar2 = testVar1;
}

In this situation only want to assign testVar2 if testVar1 is not null from the CheckObject() result (testVar2 has a setter that will fire off code). Was trying to think how could use the null coalesce stuff but not really working out.

Adding on to this testVar2 has code on it's setter to fire, so do not want testVar2 being set to anything if the value is null.

    public MyObj testVar2
    {
        get { return _testVar2; }
        set
        {
            _testVar2 = value;
            RunSomeCode();                
        }
    }

Answer

Austin T French picture Austin T French · Jun 7, 2019

There are a couple!

The ternary operator:

testvar2 = testVar1 != null ? testvar1 : testvar2;

Would be exactly the same logic.

Or, as commented you can use the null coalescing operator:

testVar2 = testVar1 ?? testVar2

(although now that's been commented as well)

Or a third option: Write a method once and use it how you like:

public static class CheckIt
{
    public static void SetWhenNotNull(string mightBeNull,ref string notNullable)
    {
        if (mightBeNull != null)
        {
            notNullable = mightBeNull;
        }
    }
}  

And call it:

CheckIt.SetWhenNotNull(test1, ref test2);