What is the significance of null safety in Kotlin?

The significance of null safety in Kotlin primarily lies in its ability to help prevent NullPointerExceptions, which are common sources of runtime errors in many programming languages. In Kotlin, null safety is enforced through the type system, which distinguishes between nullable and non-nullable types.

When a variable is defined as non-nullable, it indicates that it cannot hold a null value. This means that the compiler can catch potential null-related errors at compile time, rather than at runtime. Conversely, if a variable is defined as nullable, it explicitly allows null values, and the programmer must handle these cases properly to avoid unexpected crashes.

This feature promotes safer code practices by encouraging developers to think critically about whether a variable can ever be null, thereby leading to more robust and maintainable applications. By integrating null safety into its type system, Kotlin minimizes the occurrence of NullPointerExceptions, enhancing the overall stability and reliability of code.

The other choices do not relate to the core aspect of null safety in Kotlin, focusing instead on unrelated features or capabilities within the language.