Go's *string vs. sql.NullString: How to Best Handle SQL NULL Values?

Null Values in Go: Understanding the Distinction between *string and sql.NullString

In the realm of Go development, handling SQL NULL values can pose challenges. This question sheds light on the key differences between *string and sql.NullString encountered when working with SQL NULL values.

SQL NULLity vs. Go's Nil

SQL and Go have distinct representations for null values. SQL's NULL value is different from Go's nil, which represents a pointer set to nothing.

sql.NullString: Encapsulating SQL NULL

To represent SQL NULL strings, sql.NullString is employed. It consists of:

• String: The string value, if it exists.
• Valid: A boolean flag indicating whether the String is valid (not null).

*string: Null-Handling Using Pointers

In contrast, a nil *string is different. It refers to a string pointer with a nil value, indicating that it doesn't point to any string. This mechanism is commonly used for null handling in Go.

The Distinction in Summary

While both *string and sql.NullString can represent null values, they serve different purposes.

• sql.NullString explicitly represents SQL NULL values, following SQL's convention.
• *string uses nil pointers to indicate nullity in a more Go-idiomatic way.

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