title: How to default null session values to blank strings in C#
body: <p>I'm used to using VB.net for web programming.</p>
  
  <p>Often, I have something like:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Dim s as string = Session("s")
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get a string value for <code>s</code> from the web session.  If there is no value in the web session, I get a blank string.</p>
  
  <p>However, AFAIK, in C#, I have to have something like the code below to do the same thing.</p>
  
  <pre><code>string s;
  try { s = Session["s"].ToString(); }
  catch { s = ""; }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is there an easier way to do this?</p>