What Happens if You Use null + null in Kotlin? 🤔

Gorkem KARA
2 min readOct 3, 2024

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What Happens if You Use null + null in Kotlin?

Kotlin, with its strong focus on null safety, is known for handling null values gracefully. But what happens when you add null to null? Does the compiler throw an error, or does it silently handle it? Let’s explore this interesting aspect of Kotlin’s type system and understand what happens behind the scenes.

Understanding Null Safety in Kotlin

Kotlin doesn’t allow null values to be assigned to non-nullable variables. When you try to add two null values (null + null), the compiler won’t just ignore it. Instead, Kotlin ensures you handle nulls properly. If you’re interested in Kotlin’s null safety features and how they can improve your codebase, make sure to read about the fundamentals of Kotlin Programming on my blog here: Understanding of Kotlin Flow and its Key Features.

What Happens with null + null?

When you perform null + null in Kotlin, the compiler prevents the operation from taking place since null cannot be added directly. Instead, Kotlin requires explicit handling of null values either by safe calls or by the Elvis operator (?:). Learn more about handling such operations effectively in Kotlin from my full guide: Kotlin Null + Null Safety Explained.

Diving Deeper into Kotlin’s Type System

Kotlin’s type system is designed to make handling nulls safer and easier compared to other languages. If you’re diving into Android development and need a strong grasp of how Kotlin operates with coroutines, threading, and more, check out my comprehensive posts on Concurrency in Kotlin Using Coroutines and other Kotlin-related tips in the tag section Kotlin Tips.

Ready to Master Kotlin Null Safety?

If you’re ready to deep dive into more Kotlin features and Android best practices, visit my blog for detailed articles on Android and Kotlin development. Get the full insights on Kotlin’s type system, null safety, and much more here: gorkemkara.net.

Read the full article for a deeper dive into null handling in Kotlin and best practices: Kotlin Null + Null Safety Explained. 🚀

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