This coding principle emphasizes the importance of using `if-condition` for `optional` arguments or variables, and ensuring that they have a "not null" condition. By doing so, it helps prevent unexpected errors or bugs in the code that can arise from assuming the presence of `optional` arguments or variables without checking their values first.

Not recommended

-- component school:
optional string name:

-- ftd.text: $school.name


-- end: school

Lang:

ftd

Recommended

-- component school:
optional string name:

-- ftd.text: $school.name
if: { school.name != NULL }

-- end: school

Lang:

ftd

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Quick links:

- [Install `fastn`](install/) - [Create `fastn` package](create-fastn-package/) - [Expander Crash Course](expander/) - [Syntax Highlighting in Sublime Text](/sublime/)

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