How to initialize error type in if-else

Question

In the code snippet below, how do I initialize an error variable?

err := nil                // can not compile, show \"use of untyped nil\"
if xxx {
    err = fu         


        

Answer 1

You can create a zero-valued error (which will be nil) by declaring the variable.

var err error
if xxx {
    err = funcA()
} else {
    err = funcB()
}

It's a common idiom, and you'll see it in plenty of code.

Answer 2

This one looks a little hacky, but is valid too:

err := *new(error)