c# - Accessing a variable in an object contained within another object when the child object is null -

i have following 2 classes. addresses contains list of address. method getmailingaddress scan through addresslist looking particular type of address.

class addresses {    public list<address> addresslist {get; set;}     public address mailingaddress {get { return getmailingaddress();} }  class address {    public int? id {get; set;} } 

to access id of mailingaddress type following:

addresses obj = new addresses(); int? = obj.mailingaddress.id 

the problem mailingaddress can return null. if happens call fails references id through null object. in instance return null.

to work around use code:

if(obj.mailingaddress == null) {     i? = null; } else {     i? = obj.mailingaddress.id; } 

is there way call obj.mailingaddress.id , return null if mailingaddress null without having above if statement.

i create additional method/property within class addresses again see work around, not clean solution:

public int? mailingaddressid {     if(getmailingaddress == null)     {         return null;     }     else     {         return getmailingaddress.id;     } } 

first of int struct , must use ? or nullable<int> making nullable , then:

int? myint = obj.mailingaddress == null ? (int?)null : (int?)obj.mailingaddress.id; 

but, in c# 6 can use ? operator called safe navigation operator :

int? myint = obj?.mailingaddress?.id; 

as additional note, can use null object pattern. can learn here , use pattern also. use of null object pattern simplifies code , makes less error prone.