Working with nulls on value type structures

Question

Int32 bool float etc. are all memory structures and the value of null is a pointer (a zero pointer precisely) therefore it isn't possible to assign null to an attribute. This in itself isn't an issue until you throw in a database. The values from the database can be null but what strategies exist for working with null values in memory from one of the value types? I'm using C# to build a system. Thanks in advance.

robin 0 · Answer

I've never met such problem so the only thing I can recommend - use data types from System.Data.SqlTypes namespace... it's not very comfortable but they all have null value implementation.

gkj · Answer

In the database I can store a NULL but when I am working in memory the value types; bool int DataTime don't support null. So the question becomes what is the best way to handle a null in memory? In a database a boolean value can have three values true false and null where null is unknown. In memory it can only have two values true/false. How do I represent the third unknown value?

robin 0 · Answer

When you are woking with database - use DBNull.Value. Take a look at System.DBNull class. Is it what you need?