Rule Definition
The implicit expectation from the ToString() method is to return a string. On returning null this contract is broken.
Remediation
Return String.Empty instead
Violation Code Sample
public override string ToString ()
{
if (this.collection.Count == 0)
{
return null; // Noncompliant
}
else
{
// ...
}
}
Fixed Code Sample
public override string ToString ()
{
if (this.collection.Count == 0)
{
return string.Empty;
}
else
{
// ...
}
}
Reference
https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/394.html
https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/476.html
Related Technologies
Technical Criterion
CWE-476 - NULL Pointer Dereference
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