Null Pointers

Lesson in the C Programming Roadmap · Stage 11: User-Defined Types

Last updated 14 September 2026

What is Null Pointers?

A null pointer is a pointer that intentionally points to no valid memory location, conventionally written as NULL in C. It is used to indicate that a pointer does not currently reference anything, such as before allocation or after freeing memory. Dereferencing a null pointer is undefined behavior and typically causes a program crash, so checking for NULL before use is a common defensive practice.

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Free resources to learn Null Pointers

ArticleNull pointers in C
VideoUnderstanding the Null Pointers

Null Pointers: common questions

Can I learn Null Pointers in Hindi?

This lesson is written in English. Once you sign in, open it in the interactive course and ask the AI tutor to explain Null Pointers in Hindi or Hinglish. The tutor answers from this lesson’s own text, so it stays on the syllabus, and it runs on your own Google, OpenAI or Anthropic key.

Is this Null Pointers tutorial for beginners?

It is lesson 57 of 141 in the free C Programming roadmap, in stage 11, User-Defined Types. If you are new to C Programming, start from stage 1 and come back here in order; if you already know the earlier stages, this lesson stands on its own.