title: Checking Cookie for Value in ASP.NET results in an Object Reference Null Exception
body: <p>When I attempt to access a cookie, I get the following exception: </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Object reference not set to an instance of an object.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>This is the line in question:</p>
  
  <pre><code>if (Request.Cookies["selectBoxValue"].Value != null)
  </code></pre>
  
  <h3>Controller</h3>
  
  <pre><code>[Authorize]
          public ActionResult Index()
          {
              if (Request.Cookies["selectBoxValue"].Value != null)
              {
                  HttpCookie groupId = new HttpCookie("selectBoxValue");
                  groupId = Request.Cookies["selectBoxValue"];
  
                  // Collect all comments connected to current group
                  int t = Convert.ToInt32(groupId.Value);
                  pv.ListofComments = db.Comments.Where(dp =&gt; dp.GroupID == t).ToList();
  
                  // Show only groups connected to current user
                  var CurrentUser = User.Identity.GetUserId();
                  var groupUser = db.GroupUsers.Where(u =&gt; u.ApplicationUserId == CurrentUser).Select(gr =&gt; gr.GroupId).ToList();
                  pv.GroupList = db.Groups.Where(g =&gt; groupUser.Contains(g.Id));
                  return View(pv);
  
          }
  </code></pre>