What is the difference between null and System.DBNull.Value?

Question

Is there any difference between null and System.DBNull.Value? If yes, what is it?

I noticed this behavior now -

while (rdr.Read())
{
    if (rdr[\"I         


        

Answer 1

DBNull.Value is annoying to have to deal with.

I use static methods that check if it's DBNull and then return the value.

SqlDataReader r = ...;
String firstName = getString(r[COL_Firstname]);

private static String getString(Object o) {
   if (o == DBNull.Value) return null;
   return (String) o;
}

Also, when inserting values into a DataRow, you can't use "null", you have to use DBNull.Value.

Have two representations of "null" is a bad design for no apparent benefit.