title: If file pointer is null, do I have to use fclose()? (C)
body: <p>When I open a file in C, I am currently doing this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>int main()
  {
     FILE *f
     f = fopen("employers.dat", "rb");
     if(f == NULL)
     {
         PUTS("can not open the file:\"employers.dat\"");
         fclose(f);
         exit(-1);
     }
     return 0;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is it necessary to use <code>fclose</code> if the pointer is <code>NULL</code>?</p>