What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nullable
Example
In C#, you can declare a nullable integer using the '?' symbol. [nullable: adjective]
Example
The nullable Boolean variable returned null when no value was assigned. [nullable: noun]
null
Example
The function returned a null value when no data was found. [null: noun]
Example
The program crashed due to a null reference exception. [null: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Null is more commonly used than nullable in programming and computer science contexts. Null is a reserved keyword in many programming languages, while nullable is a language feature that is not always available.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between nullable and null?
Both nullable and null are technical terms used in programming and computer science, and are therefore considered formal language. However, null is more commonly used and may be more familiar to programmers.