The way ByteReader is supposed to work is using this pattern: if (!byteReader.CanRead32()) return false; uint32_t value = byteReader.ReadU32(); An optional type would avoid this kind of mistake: if (!byteReader.CanRead16()) return false; uint32_t value = byteReader.ReadU32(); But it would otherwise be pretty much open to the same mistake of forgetting the error check. Having said that, it is better from a type safety point of view.