empty reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "empty reference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts such as programming, documentation, or discussions about data structures where a reference points to nothing or is null. Example: "The function returned an empty reference, which caused the program to crash."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He didn't just slap on a print or use an empty reference.

The New York Times

The sensorgrams (time course of the SPR signal in RU) were normalized to a baseline value of 0. The signals observed in the surfaces immobilizing 15B3 or 3F4 were corrected by subtracting the non-specific response observed in the empty reference surface.

Plosone

In de novo mode, UCHIME starts with an empty reference database.

Bioinformatics

Samples were loaded into an aluminum capsule and heated at a rate of 10 °C/min from 0 to 300 °C concurrently with an empty reference aluminum capsule in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas.

Biomacromolecules

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He does not patronize his supporters with empty references to his impending victory.

The New York Times

Hence his probabilities are always with respect to a non-empty reference class, so the probability that an event is in a class B is in Reichenbach's notation, P A, B) where A is the reference class similar to the modern notation of the conditional probability P(B | A).

SEP

Cavity-empty TRiCs would have a higher correlation to the hollow reference than cavity-occupied ones.

eLife

Scanning the column empty as reference CT scan.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

The fluidized bed column's cross section was divided into n × m square pixels and the following CT scans were performed: 1. Scanning the column empty as reference CT scan.   2.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

The intensity thereby recorded in one detector pixel over the grating position can be described by a sinusoidal curve that changes its parameters offset, phase, and amplitude between an empty beam (reference) and an object in the beam (see Fig. 1 b).

EBioMedicine

We discuss the influence of the pore sizes on the scalar mixing efficiency and compare the results to the reference empty tube case.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "empty reference" in technical documentation, clearly define what constitutes an empty reference in your specific context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "empty reference" when you actually mean an uninitialized reference. An empty reference implies it was intentionally set to a null or default state, whereas an uninitialized reference simply hasn't been assigned a value yet.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empty reference" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically within technical or scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in denoting a reference that does not point to any valid data or object. This aligns with examples where it describes states in programming or experimental setups.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "empty reference" is a grammatically sound noun phrase primarily used in technical and scientific fields to denote a reference that points to nothing. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correctly used to signal the absence of a valid data association, error conditions, or deliberate disconnections. While not overly common, its usage is consistent across various contexts, including scientific papers and technical documentation. Related phrases include "null reference" and "void reference", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts. When using "empty reference", it is important to clearly define its meaning within your specific context and avoid confusing it with an uninitialized reference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

null reference

Replaces "empty" with "null", a common term in programming to denote a reference that points to nothing.

void reference

Uses "void" instead of "empty", another term often used in programming contexts to indicate a non-existent or invalid reference.

nonexistent reference

Emphasizes the absence of an existing reference.

invalid reference

Highlights that the reference is not valid or usable.

unassigned reference

Indicates that the reference has not been assigned a value or target.

missing reference

Focuses on the fact that a reference is absent where one is expected.

blank reference

Uses "blank" to convey the idea of a reference that contains no meaningful information.

hollow reference

Employs "hollow" to suggest that the reference lacks substance or content.

vacuous reference

Replaces "empty" with "vacuous", emphasizing the lack of content or meaning in the reference.

unfilled reference

Highlights that the reference has not been populated with any data or association.

FAQs

How is an "empty reference" different from a null pointer?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, an "empty reference" and a null pointer both indicate a reference that doesn't point to a valid object. The specific terminology might vary depending on the programming language or context.

What are some scenarios where an "empty reference" might be intentionally used?

An "empty reference" might be used to initialize a variable when no initial value is available, to signal the absence of a result in a function, or to break a link between objects to free up memory.

Are there alternatives to using an "empty reference" to indicate a missing value?

Yes, depending on the programming language or framework, you could use optional types, sentinel values, or specific error handling mechanisms to indicate a missing or invalid value. These can provide more context and type safety than simply using an /s/null+reference.

How can I avoid errors caused by "empty references" in my code?

Implement robust error handling, use null checks before dereferencing a reference, and consider using static analysis tools to detect potential null pointer exceptions or /s/invalid+reference issues.