Define:

A Null Object is an object with defined neutral ("null") behaviour. The Null Object design pattern describes the uses of such objects and their behaviour (or lack thereof).

Usage:

When the handling of nulls should be abstracted from the client.

When an object requires a collaborator

Examples Implementations:

A Null strategy pattern when we don't want work to actually be done by the strategy executor

A Null command object we want the command to execute nothing.

A factory method when we could not determine what object to instantiate