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Programming FundamentalsBeginner

Null vs Undefined

PronunciationNUL versos UN-de-fined

Definition

null represents an intentional absence of any object value, while undefined means a variable has been declared but not yet assigned a value.

Where you hear it

During code reviews, debugging missing data, or checking API response payloads in JavaScript and TypeScript.

Examples

  • Declaring a variable without a value automatically sets its state to undefined.
  • Developers explicitly assign null to clear a variable or indicate a missing resource.

Common mistake

Treating them as completely interchangeable, leading to unexpected type errors when checking optional properties.