juniorLINQ

Difference between First and FirstOrDefault

Updated May 16, 2026

Short answer

First throws exception if empty; FirstOrDefault returns default value.

Deep explanation

First expects at least one element; FirstOrDefault safely returns null or default(T).

Real-world example

Fetching optional configuration settings.

Common mistakes

  • Using First without checking if data exists.

Follow-up questions

  • What is default(T)?
  • When to use First?

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