Nullen

Nullen is a German verb meaning to set something to zero, to make it null, or to erase data by replacing with zeros. It derives from the noun Null (zero) and is commonly used in technical and computing contexts, as well as in everyday language when describing resetting values.

In computing and data processing, to nullen a variable means to assign the value 0, or to clear out contents, memory, or fields. Typical phrases include "den Wert nullen" or "auf Null setzen." Nulling is a routine operation when initializing variables, erasing sensitive information before reuse, or preparing data structures for reuse.

In mathematics and statistics, Zero is called Null; "Nullen" can refer to the zeros of a function or to zero-valued entries in a dataset. However, precise terminology often uses "Nullstellen" for zeros of a function and "Nullwerte" for zero values.

In digital technologies, zeros (Nullen) and ones (Einsen) constitute binary data streams; the term is used when discussing bit patterns, error-correction, or data encoding.

Etymology and usage notes: the form and frequency of "Nullen" vary by region and discipline; the verb is widely understood in German-speaking areas, while the noun form may be encountered primarily in technical writing. See also Null, Nullstelle, Nullwert, zeroing.