[c#] Initialize value of 'var' in C# to null

I want to assign a variable to an initial value of null, and assign its value in the next if-else block, but the compiler is giving an error,

Implicitly-typed local variables must be initialized.

How could I achieve this?

The var keyword in C#'s main benefit is to enhance readability, not functionality. Technically, the var keywords allows for some other unlocks (e.g. use of anonymous objects), but that seems to be outside the scope of this question. Every variable declared with the var keyword has a type. For instance, you'll find that the following code outputs "String".

var myString = "";
Console.Write(myString.GetType().Name);

Furthermore, the code above is equivalent to:

String myString = "";
Console.Write(myString.GetType().Name);

The var keyword is simply C#'s way of saying "I can figure out the type for myString from the context, so don't worry about specifying the type."

var myVariable = (MyType)null or MyType myVariable = null should work because you are giving the C# compiler context to figure out what type myVariable should will be.

For more information:

• How to initialize var?
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb397696.aspx