PHP DDD can I return null from DTO getter?

Question

Is that allowed or not? For example I have a method getName() that returns string, but what should I return if name is not set?

Answer 1

As far as I am aware there isn't any rule in DDD, preventing a DTO of returning Null value from a getter.

Personally I handle the Null values sourcing in DTO in a level closer to the Client/View.

So for example, if I build an MVC web app using DDD, in my interface I will have:

• My DTO - with the getter
• A DtoAssembler for my DTO which will use the getter.
• A Controller which will call the DtoAssembler. Here I will make sure that the method which calls the DtoAssembler will throw an Exception in the case of a Null value from the getter.

This way you ensure that the client will need to handle the Null value.