Does null conditional operator return false if null?

Question

I have this conditional

if (item?.Value2?.GetType() != typeof(string) && item.get_Value() == 0)

I believe that if item is null the ?. operation will return null, which I believe will be resolved as false causing the condition to short circuit and all will be well (item.get_Value() won't be called)

However I am not certain, I thought maybe I need to do it like so

if (item?.Value2?.GetType() ?? 0 != typeof(string) && item.get_Value() == 0)

but I think that might be overkill, is the first way safe from potential null reference exception?

Answer 1

item?.Value2?.GetType() will return null if item is null or Value2 is null.

The condition evaluated will be

if (null != typeof(string) && item.get_Value() == 0)

so the first condition will be resolved as true causing a NullReferenceException when item.get_Value() == 0 will be executed (but only when item is null, and not Value2)