Correct way of defining NULL and NULL_POINTER?

Question

As far as I know, C defines NULL like this:

#define NULL ( (void *) 0)

Then, how should we define NULL_POINTER ? I defined it the same in my program and it worked, but I suppose that is just a coincidence:

#define NULL_POINTER ( (void *) 0)

What would be the logical definition, if any ?

Answer 1

It is only in pointer contexts that NULL and 0 are equivalent. NULL should not be used when another kind of 0 is required, even though it might work, because doing so sends the wrong stylistic message. (Furthermore, ANSI allows the definition of NULL to be ((void *)0), which will not work at all in non-pointer contexts.) In particular, do not use NULL when the ASCII null character (NUL) is desired. Provide your own definition

#define NUL '\0'

NULL should be used only as a pointer constant.

Answer 2

#define NULL ( (void *) 0)

and

#define NULL 0

are both valid. If you need to implement your own macro for null pointer, the same rule applies.

C11(ISO/IEC 9899:201x) §6.3.2.3 Pointers Section 3

An integer constant expression with the value 0, or such an expression cast to type void *, is called a null pointer constant