# We Haven't Invented Zero Yet

DevFeed: [We Haven't Invented Zero Yet](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/we-haven-t-invented-zero-yet-32231.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://bruceeckel.com/2020/07/30/we-havent-invented-zero-yet/>)

Author: Bruce Eckel

Published: 2020-07-30T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Bruce Eckel - Computing Thoughts](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/bruce-eckel-computing-thoughts.md>)

Topics: [Kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kotlin.md>), [C++](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/c-plus-plus.md>), [Computer science](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/computer-science.md>), [Containers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/containers.md>)

Tags: [c-plus-plus](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/c-plus-plus.md>), [computer-science](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/computer-science.md>), [containers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/containers.md>), [kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kotlin.md>), [syntax](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/syntax.md>)

## AI overview

The article reflects on the conceptual difference between zero and the absence of any value, arguing that computer science lacks a typed equivalent of zero. It discusses how this distinction creates difficulties in C, C++, Kotlin, and generic containers.

## Source excerpt

I am the author, with Svetlana Isakova, of Atomic Kotlin. I suspect most people currently alive were introduced to the concept of zero quite early in their development--early enough that they internalized it as a foundational principle and don't ask questions about it. In addition, many people probably know that zero was invented after the original number systems. The ancient Greeks didn't have a zero, and it puzzled them: "How can nothing be something?