How to not Return a value [C#]

[Shaitan00]

A Function [FindIndex] is given a string that it must match in an Array and return the Index [integer]. However if the Index is not found I do not want to return an integer.

 

I have tried returned false, null [give errors indicating that cannot convert false, null to integer] and even either omitting return or putting an EXIT command [gives errors indicating not all paths return a value].

 

However any value returned will cause an error because it does not correspond properly.

How would I go about handling such a situation?

[Bucky]

I'd reccomend returning -1 for an index that could not be found.

This is how index-returning methods of the .NET framework

handle the situation. Just check the return value to see if it's -1

before continuing.

[Shaitan00]

Wish it were that simple, currently all intger values are mapped [including -1], it is not a normal array [handmade which is indexed from - to + infiniti.

 

Currently I return -100 which consequently removes array[-100] from the list of indexes I can use [not the best idea] so I wanted to know if there was another approach that would not require loosing one integer value as a return trap.

[Bucky]

If that's the case, the best method I can think of is to throw an

exception (preferrably create your own) inside the method and

then just catch it outside the method call.

[Hamburger1984]

... or you return Integer.MaxValue/.MinValue - not that beautiful but also a possibility.. double.NaN would also be a good value.. but not working when using integers...

 

I guess Bucky's solution is the best (throw an Exception)