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C++ Data Types
course content

Course Content

C++ Data Types

C++ Data Types

1. Introduction
OverviewArithmetic OperationsDivision int and doubleStandard MathSpecifying a Type
2. Numerical Data Types
Overview of Integer TypesApplications of Integer TypesType Modifiers for VariablesWorking with Floating-Point NumbersDouble-Precision Numbers
3. Text Data Type
Character Data TypeString Data TypeAccessing and Manipulating String ElementsCommon String MethodsString Manipulation PracticeSearching Within Strings
4. Other Data Types and Concepts
Boolean Data TypeBoolean ExpressionsVoid Data TypeAutomatic Type DeductionUnsigned Data TypesImplicit Type ConversionExplicit Type Conversion

book
Explicit Type Conversion

If you are dealing with variables of type int, rather than just numbers in code, you need to convert the value of a variable to double or float. This can be accomplished using the following syntax:

cpp

main

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#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    int num1 = 9;
    int num2 = 4;
	std::cout << "No conversion: " << num1 / num2 << std::endl;
	std::cout << "With conversion: " << (double)num1 / num2 << std::endl;
}

There are several ways to explicitly perform type conversion. This one is called C-style conversion:

cpp

main

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#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    float num = 6.5;
    std::cout << (int)num << std::endl; // 6.5 to `int` is 6
    std::cout << (bool)num << std::endl; // 6.5 to `bool` is true
}

While this approach is concise, it does not clearly indicate the intent or nature of the conversion, which can lead to ambiguity and potential misuse.

There are more explicit and safer casting operators to provide better control over type conversions.

Most of the time, you only need a static_conversion. We will not discuss other casts in-depth. Here is the syntax:

cpp

main

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#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    float num = 6.5;
    std::cout << static_cast<int>(num) << std::endl; // 6.5 to `int` is 6
    std::cout << static_cast<bool>(num) << std::endl; // 6.5 to `bool` is true
}

We will not cover the difference between all of those. In general, static_cast is preferable since it is more restrictive and can prevent some unexpected behavior with complex data types.

question mark

Select all the correct ways of performing type conversion.

Select the correct answer

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SectionΒ 4. ChapterΒ 7
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