Returns null from a function that returns a DateTime

Question

public static DateTime ResolveDate() { return null; } 

I need to return a null value from a function that returns a DateTime type. My main goal is NOT to use MinValue or return new Datetime(); [Which returns a default date] and Frontend displays the date as an empty value (empty) → ""

Answer 1

 public static DateTime? ResolveDate() { if ( someconditon = true ) { return DateTime.Now } else { return null; } } 

An alternative is to use something like TryParse.

 Public static bool TryResolve (out Resolvedate) { if ( someconditon = true ) { Resolvedate = DateTime.Now return true; } else { return false; } } 

Answer 2

Make it invalid

  public static DateTime? ResolveDate() { return null; } 

Then you can return zero as you want and check accordingly

Read this Nullable Types for more information.

Answer 3

You can either return a Nullable<DateTime> like this:

 public static DateTime? ResolveDate() { if (notResolvable) { return null; } } 

What can be used like this:

 var date = ResolveDate(); if (date.HasValue) { // Use date.Value here } 

Or use the naming convention "Try":

 public static bool TryResolveDate(out DateTime date) { date = default(DateTime); if (notResolvable) { return false; } } 

What can be used like this:

 DateTime date; if (TryResolveDate(out date)) { // Use date here } 

Answer 4

  bool somecondition = true; public DateTime? ResolveDate() { DateTime? date = null; if (somecondition == true) { date = DateTime.Now; return DateTime.Now; } else return date; }