In C#, what is the difference between "\0", '\0' and null?

[rajanipro]

Consider,

using System;
 
class MainClass
{
    static void Main()
    {
        object[] ob = new object[12];
 
        for(int i=0; i<3; i++)
            ob[i] = i;
 
        for(int i=3; i<6; i++)
            ob[i] = (int)i/2;
 
        ob[6] = "string";
 
        ob[7] = 'c';
 
        ob[8] = true;
 
        ob[9] = DateTime.Now.ToLongDateString() + "\0" + DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString();
 
        ob[10] = DateTime.Now.ToLongDateString() + '\0' + DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString();
 
        ob[11] = DateTime.Now.ToLongDateString() + null + DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString();
 
 
 
        for(int i=0; i<ob.Length; i++)
            Console.WriteLine("ob[{0}] = {1}", i, ob[i]);
    }
}
 

\0 is an escape sequence described as null.

But why is the difference between "\0", '\0' and null as in the program where ob[11] has no space between DateTime.Now.ToLongDateString() and DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString(), but ob[9] and ob[10] have?

[Frinavale]

Hi Rajanipro,


I have moved your question to the .NET forum. The .NET Articles section is reserved for articles that are purely informational; like "how-tos" etc. The .NET Forum is the place for your questions. In the future please post your questions here (Blue Menu Along the Top: Forums->.NET).

Cheers!
-Frinny

[Plater]

'\0' is character data with character code 0 (0x00 if you prefer)
"\0" is string data, containing one character, the 0x00 character, which, since it's used as a string delimeter and other special cases, will not be displayed and is considered null.
NULL is null, sometimes defined as a pointer to a memory location 0x0000 (or any other versions of zero) which is a special pointer that means "does not exist"
They are all used for different things.
For example, setting a variable to NULL effectively "un-defines" it in the sense that it's memory is now floating, and managed code (.NET) will not allow you to access it and throws a NULL reference exception.

[rajanipro]

Thank you very much indeed!