Hiro Docs

Function Signature

(default-to default-value option-value)

Input:
- default-value: A value of type A
- option-value: An optional value of type (optional A)
Output: A value of type A

Why it matters

The default-to function is crucial for:

Safely handling optional values in smart contracts.
Providing fallback values when dealing with potentially missing data.
Simplifying code that works with map lookups or other operations that may return none.
Improving readability by reducing nested conditionals for optional handling.

When to use it

Use the default-to function when you need to:

Provide a default value for a map lookup that might return none.
Handle optional function parameters or return values.
Set a fallback value for potentially missing data in your contract logic.
Simplify error handling for operations that might not return a value.

Best Practices

Choose meaningful default values that make sense in the context of your contract logic.
Use default-to to make your code more concise and readable when dealing with optionals.
Consider the implications of using the default value in your contract's logic.
Combine default-to with other Clarity functions like map-get? for efficient data handling.

Practical Example: User Profile Lookup

Let's implement a function that retrieves a user's profile information with default values:

(define-map user-profiles principal { name: (string-ascii 50), age: uint })

(define-read-only (get-user-profile (user principal))
  (let ((profile (default-to { name: "", age: u0 } (map-get? user-profiles user))))
    {
      name: (default-to "Anonymous" (get name profile)),
      age: (default-to u0 (get age profile))
    }
  ))

;; Usage
(map-set user-profiles tx-sender { name: "Alice", age: u30 })
(get-user-profile tx-sender) ;; Returns { name: "Alice", age: u30 }
(get-user-profile 'ST1PQHQKV0RJXZFY1DGX8MNSNYVE3VGZJSRTPGZGM) ;; Returns { name: "Anonymous", age: u0 }

This example demonstrates:

Using default-to with map-get? to handle potentially missing user profiles.
Providing default values for individual fields within the profile.
Creating a safe way to retrieve user information without explicit null checks.

Common Pitfalls

Forgetting that default-to only works with optional types, not with general error handling.
Using default values that might be indistinguishable from valid data, leading to confusion.
Overusing default-to where explicit error handling might be more appropriate.

map-get?: Often used in combination with default-to for safe map lookups.
get: Can return optional values that are then handled by default-to.
some: Used to create optional values that can be handled by default-to.

The default-to function is a powerful tool for handling optional values in Clarity smart contracts. By providing a clean way to specify fallback values, it enhances code readability and safety when dealing with potentially missing data. When used judiciously, default-to can significantly simplify your contract logic and make it more robust against unexpected inputs or states.

default-to