# I Know Nothing in Kotlin

DevFeed: [I Know Nothing in Kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/i-know-nothing-in-kotlin-37554.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://colintheshots.com/writing/i-know-nothing-in-kotlin/>)

Published: 2022-08-30T17:52:35Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Colin The Shots](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/colin-the-shots.md>)

Topics: [Kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kotlin.md>), [Exception](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/exception.md>), [Coroutines](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/coroutines.md>), [kotlin multiplatform mobile](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kotlin-multiplatform-mobile.md>)

Tags: [coroutines](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/coroutines.md>), [exception-handling](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/exception-handling.md>), [kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kotlin.md>), [kotlin-multiplatform-mobile](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kotlin-multiplatform-mobile.md>), [refactor](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/refactor.md>)

## AI overview

This developer article explains Kotlin's Nothing type through a refactoring example involving exception handling in a shared Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile repository. It distinguishes Nothing from Unit and describes using it when a function always throws, including when interoperating with Swift code and preserving coroutine cancellation.

## Source excerpt

When the Greek philosopher Socrates professed that "I know only one thing-- that I know nothing," he wasn't exactly professing ignorance. It was an ancient formulation of the Dunning-Kruger effect.