String extension that returns a default value when empty

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.NET extension methods are very useful. Here is one that I am using frequently in a current project -

I want to trim a string of extra spaces at the ends, then check to see if it is empty. If it is empty I want to assign a default value.

With .NET extension methods, it makes it easy to create a peice of reusable code that can be called like any method.

    public static class StringExtensions
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// If the current string (trimmed) is empty then return the default string
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name=”currentString”>The current string value</param>
        /// <param name=”defaultString”>The string to return if the current string is empty</param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public static string DefaultIfEmpty(this string currentString, string defaultString)
        {
            if (currentString.Trim() == string.Empty)
            {
                return defaultString;
            }
            else
            {
                return currentString.Trim();
            }
        }
    }

The preceding word ‘this’ in the parameter declaration means that you can call this method on any string.

Example using the new extension -

string myString = ” “;

myString.DefaultIfEmpty(“I was empty”);

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