null_check_always_fails

This null-check will always throw an exception because the expression will always evaluate to 'null'.

The analyzer produces this diagnostic when the null check operator (!) is used on an expression whose value can only be null. In such a case the operator always throws an exception, which likely isn't the intended behavior.

The following code produces this diagnostic because the function g will always return null, which means that the null check in f will always throw:

void f() {
  g()!;
}

Null g() => null;

If you intend to always throw an exception, then replace the null check with an explicit throw expression to make the intent more clear:

void f() {
  g();
  throw TypeError();
}

Null g() => null;

Unless stated otherwise, the documentation on this site reflects Dart 3.8.0. Page last updated on 2025-05-08. View source or report an issue.