I want "(int)null" to return me 0

Question

How can i get 0 as integer value from (int)null.

EDIT 1: I want to create a function that will return me default values for null representation in their respective datatypes.

EDIT 2: How can i work in this scenario for using default.

(int)Value

Where Value can be null or any integer value. I dont know datatype of value at run time. But i will assure that Value should either contain null or Integer value only.

Answer 1

You can use the Nullable structure

int value = new Nullable<int>().GetValueOrDefault();

You can also use the default keyword

int value = default(int);

Following 2nd edit:

You need a function that receive any type of parameter, so object will be used. Your function is similar to the Field<T> extension method on a DataRow

public static T GetValue<T>(object value)
{
    if (value == null || value == DBNull.Value)
        return default(T);
    else
        return (T)value;
}

Using that function, if you want an int (and you expect value to be an int) you call it like:

int result = GetValue<int>(dataRow["Somefield"]);