How do I understand zero values and their implications in Go?

In Go, every variable has a default value, known as a "zero value," which is automatically assigned when a variable is declared without an explicit initialization. Understanding zero values is critical for avoiding errors and ensuring that your programs behave as expected.

Zero values differ based on the type of variable:

• Numeric types: 0
• Boolean: false
• Strings: "" (empty string)
• Pointers: nil
• Arrays, slices, maps, and interfaces: nil

Being aware of zero values helps prevent issues related to uninitialized variables and ensures that your code handles default cases appropriately.

// Example of zero values in Go
package main

import (
    "fmt"
)

func main() {
    var a int
    var b string
    var c bool

    fmt.Println("Zero value of int:", a)   // Output: Zero value of int: 0
    fmt.Println("Zero value of string:", b) // Output: Zero value of string: 
    fmt.Println("Zero value of bool:", c)   // Output: Zero value of bool: false
}