Type Conversion and Casting in c#
In the C# programming language, data type conversion means converting a user-defined, declared numeric or text variable parameter value from one data type to another. There are two main types of data type parameter value conversions in C# programming: implicit and explicit.
So, let’s explore the data type conversion and casting methods in C# programming.
Implicit data type conversion/type promotion in C#.
Implicit data type conversion is performed automatically in the C# programming language when a user-defined program updates or converts a declared data type value from a small data type to a large data type. There is no risk of data loss or data overflow.
Examples of implicit data conversion in the C# programming language.
- Updating or converting an existing data value from a small to a large integral data type, including from an int to a long data type.
- Converting or updating a user-declared integer data type parameter value from an int to a float or double data type as a floating point.
Example of implicit conversion.
int numeric = 77;
long bigNumeric = numeric; // Here, implicit data type conversion is performed without data loss during the conversion process.
float decimalnumeric = numeric; // This converts the int data type into the float data type with the fractional value 77.0f.
Explicit Data Type Conversion/Casting in C#.
In the C# programming language, explicit data casting or conversion is performed when there is a risk of data loss or conversion from a larger data type to a smaller data type in a user-defined data type variable parameter value.
Explicit Data Type Conversion Syntax.
targetType variableName = (targetType)sourceValue;
Explicit Data Type Example:
double numeric = 13.38;
int intNumeric = (int)numeric; // Here we perform explicit data casting, it automatically truncates the decimal part.
Console.WriteLine(intNumeric); // Result is – 13
Remember: Casting a variable parameter from a larger data type to a smaller data type can result in loss of the actual data type value or overflow of the data value.
Convert using built-in methods in the C# programming language.
The C# programming language provides the Convert class method for secure and controlled data type conversion.
Example of Convert using built-in methods.
string decimaltoString = “874”;
int output = Convert.ToInt32(decimaltoString); // Here it converts the string data type to an int data type.
Console.WriteLine(output); // Result is – 874
Popular C# program data type conversion method.
- Convert.ToInt32()
- Convert.ToDouble()
- Convert.ToBoolean()
- Convert.ToString()
Parsing string data type to numeric data type in a C# program.
In the C# programming language, the int.Parse() or double.Parse() built-in C# function methods are used to convert string data type text values to number data types.
Example of parsing string data type to numeric data type.
string values = “982”;
int parsedValue = int.Parse(values); // This converts the string value into an integer data type value.
Console.WriteLine(parsedValue); // The result is – 982
Remember: When converting a string data type to a valid number data type, you must have a valid number. Otherwise, it will throw a program exception error.
Use the TryParse method for safe conversion in a C# program.
In the C# programming language, the TryParse() function method throws an exception and indicates whether the data type conversion was successful.
Example of the TryParse method for safe conversion.
string values = “148”;
bool succevent = int.TryParse(values, out int numeric);
if (succevent)
{
Console.WriteLine($”it Parsed the numeric value – {numeric}”);
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine(“Invalid user values entered.”);
}
Detail explanation of data Type Conversion and Casting in c#.
| Data Conversion Type | Method to use | Data type conversion Example |
| Implicit data type conversion | It performs Automatic in from small data type to large data type method | int -> long data type conversion |
| Explicit (Casting) data type conversion | Use existing c# data (type) operator or method to convert | (int)11.24 it converts int data type |
| Convert Class | Use convert class to Convert.ToInt32 to desire data type conversion method | Convert.ToDouble(“7.3”) it converts double data type |
| Parse method function | Use this method int.Parse() to convert integer value | int.Parse(“984”) it converts integer numeric values |
| TryParse method | int.TryParse() use this method function for integer conversion | int.TryParse(“492”, out p) |
C# program boxing and unboxing conversion.
- Boxing conversion – This converts a user-defined data type value type to an object.
- Unboxing conversion – This extracts a user-defined data type value type from an object to a value type.
Example of boxing and unboxing conversion.
int integer = 87;
object boxedInteger = integer; // here it converts object into the Boxing method
int unboxedInteger = (int)boxedInteger; // here it converts object into the Unboxing method
