Extend "object" with a null check more readable than ReferenceEquals

Question

I tried to extend "object" to allow a more readable check if an object is null.

Now, object.ReferenceEquals really checks for a null object, (the rare times it will not apply are since the operator == can be overridden. the object.Equals(null) method can also be overridden).

But the object.ReferenceEquals(null, obj); is not too readable is it?... So, I thought, why not write an extension method to the System.object that will provide that check using object.IsNull(obj);

I've tried:

public static class MyExtClass
{
    // the "IsNull" extension to "object"  
    public static bool IsNull(this object obj)
    {
        return object.ReferenceEquals(obj, null);
    }
}

public SomeOtherClass
{
     public static void TryUsingTheExtension()
     {
          object obj;

          // Why does this line fail? the extension method is not recognized
          // I get: 'object' does not contain a definition for "IsNull"
          bool itIsANull = object.IsNull(obj);
     }
}

What did I miss?

Answer 1

Try

bool itIsANull = obj.IsNull();