C++ Type Cast

🔄 C++ Type Casting – Convert One Type to Another

Sometimes in C++, you need to change one data type into another. This is called type casting — like telling your program, “Hey, treat this float like an int!”

🎭 Types of Type Casting

• Implicit Casting (automatic): Done by the compiler
• Explicit Casting (manual): Done by the programmer

🧪 Example: Implicit Type Casting

In this example, C++ automatically converts an int to a float.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int num = 10;
    float result = num;  // int is implicitly cast to float

    cout << "Result: " << result << endl;

    return 0;
}

✋ Example: Explicit Type Casting

You can forcefully convert one type to another using (type) before the value.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    float pi = 3.14159;
    int approx = (int) pi;  // Explicit cast

    cout << "Original: " << pi << endl;
    cout << "After Casting: " << approx << endl;

    return 0;
}

📘 C++ Style Casting (Best Practice)

You can also use C++-style casting, which is more readable and type-safe:

• static_cast<type>(expression) – For most general conversions

🔍 Example: static_cast

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    double money = 99.99;
    int rupees = static_cast<int>(money);

    cout << "Money: " << money << endl;
    cout << "Rupees (int): " << rupees << endl;

    return 0;
}

🧠 Remember

• Implicit casting happens automatically (no code needed)
• Explicit casting requires your command (like (int) or static_cast)
• Use static_cast for modern and safe C++ code