What is the best approach to check if a lookup field is null in apex?

rec.lookupField__c == null;         // OR
rec.lookupField__c == '';           // OR 
String.isBlank(rec.lookupField__c ) // ?

I apologize if this is the same as How to check in Apex if a Text field is blank. I posted this anyway because I need confirmation on the approach specifically for a lookup field. The linked question talks only about text field. I am not sure if it is completely safe to consider a lookup field as a text field in this scenario.

What is the best approach to check if a lookup field is null in apex?

rec.lookupField__c == null;         // OR
rec.lookupField__c == '';           // OR 
String.isBlank(rec.lookupField__c ) // ?

I apologize if this is the same as How to check in Apex if a Text field is blank. I posted this anyway because I need confirmation on the approach specifically for a lookup field. The linked question talks only about text field. I am not sure if it is completely safe to consider a lookup field as a text field in this scenario.

What is the best approach to check if a lookup field is null in apex? Is it:

lookupField__c == null

OR

lookupField__c == ''

OR

String.isBlank(rec.lookupField__c )

I apologize if this is the same as How to check in Apex if a Text field is blank , posted this anyway because need confirmation on the approach specifically for a lookup field. The mentioned SFSE question talks only about text field. I am not sure if it is completely safe to consider a lookup field as a text field in this scenario.

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

What is the best approach to check if a lookup field is null in apex?

rec.lookupField__c == null;         // OR
rec.lookupField__c == '';           // OR 
String.isBlank(rec.lookupField__c ) // ?

I apologize if this is the same as How to check in Apex if a Text field is blank. I posted this anyway because I need confirmation on the approach specifically for a lookup field. The linked question talks only about text field. I am not sure if it is completely safe to consider a lookup field as a text field in this scenario.