static_cast
Converts between types using a combination of implicit and user-defined conversions
#include <vector>
#include <iostream>
struct B {
int m = 0;
void hello() const {
std::cout << "Hello world, this is B!\n";
}
};
struct D : B {
void hello() const {
std::cout << "Hello world, this is D!\n";
}
};
enum class E { ONE = 1, TWO, THREE };
enum EU { ONE = 1, TWO, THREE };
int main()
{
// 1: initializing conversion
int n = static_cast<int>(3.14);
std::cout << "n = " << n << '\n';
std::vector<int> v = static_cast<std::vector<int>>(10);
std::cout << "v.size() = " << v.size() << '\n';
// 2: static downcast
D d;
B& br = d; // upcast via implicit conversion
br.hello();
D& another_d = static_cast<D&>(br); // downcast
another_d.hello();
// 3: lvalue to xvalue
std::vector<int> v2 = static_cast<std::vector<int>&&>(v);
std::cout << "after move, v.size() = " << v.size() << '\n';
// 4: discarded-value expression
static_cast<void>(v2.size());
// 5. inverse of implicit conversion
void* nv = &n;
int* ni = static_cast<int*>(nv);
std::cout << "*ni = " << *ni << '\n';
// 6. array-to-pointer followed by upcast
D a[10];
B* dp = static_cast<B*>(a);
// 7. scoped enum to int or float
E e = E::ONE;
int one = static_cast<int>(e);
std::cout << one << '\n';
// 8. int to enum, enum to another enum
E e2 = static_cast<E>(one);
EU eu = static_cast<EU>(e2);
// 9. pointer to member upcast
int D::*pm = &D::m;
std::cout << br.*static_cast<int B::*>(pm) << '\n';
// 10. void* to any type
void* voidp = &e;
std::vector<int>* p = static_cast<std::vector<int>*>(voidp);
}
dynamic_cast
Safely converts pointers and references to classes up, down, and sideways along the inheritance hierarchy
struct V {
virtual void f() {}; // must be polymorphic to use runtime-checked dynamic_cast
};
struct A : virtual V {};
struct B : virtual V {
B(V* v, A* a) {
// casts during construction (see the call in the constructor of D below)
dynamic_cast<B*>(v); // well-defined: v of type V*, V base of B, results in B*
dynamic_cast<B*>(a); // undefined behavior: a has type A*, A not a base of B
}
};
struct D : A, B {
D() : B(static_cast<A*>(this), this) { }
};
struct Base {
virtual ~Base() {}
};
struct Derived: Base {
virtual void name() {}
};
int main()
{
D d; // the most derived object
A& a = d; // upcast, dynamic_cast may be used, but unnecessary
D& new_d = dynamic_cast<D&>(a); // downcast
B& new_b = dynamic_cast<B&>(a); // sidecast
Base* b1 = new Base;
if(Derived* d = dynamic_cast<Derived*>(b1))
{
std::cout << "downcast from b1 to d successful\n";
d->name(); // safe to call
}
Base* b2 = new Derived;
if(Derived* d = dynamic_cast<Derived*>(b2))
{
std::cout << "downcast from b2 to d successful\n";
d->name(); // safe to call
}
delete b1;
delete b2;
}
const_cast
Converts between types with different cv-qualification.
struct type {
int i;
type(): i(3) {}
void f(int v) const {
// this->i = v; // compile error: this is a pointer to const
const_cast<type*>(this)->i = v; // OK as long as the type object isn't const
}
};
int main()
{
int i = 3; // i is not declared const
const int& rci = i;
const_cast<int&>(rci) = 4; // OK: modifies i
std::cout << "i = " << i << '\n';
type t; // if this was const type t, then t.f(4) would be undefined behavior
t.f(4);
std::cout << "type::i = " << t.i << '\n';
const int j = 3; // j is declared const
int* pj = const_cast<int*>(&j);
// *pj = 4; // undefined behavior
void (type::* pmf)(int) const = &type::f; // pointer to member function
// const_cast<void(type::*)(int)>(pmf); // compile error: const_cast does
// not work on function pointers
}
user-defined conversion
Enables implicit conversion or explicit conversion from a class type to another type.
struct X {
//implicit conversion
operator int() const { return 7; }
// explicit conversion
explicit operator int*() const { return nullptr; }
// Error: array operator not allowed in conversion-type-id
// operator int(*)[3]() const { return nullptr; }
using arr_t = int[3];
operator arr_t*() const { return nullptr; } // OK if done through typedef
// operator arr_t () const; // Error: conversion to array not allowed in any case
};
class A{
public:
explicit A(int i){
}
};
int main()
{
X x;
int n = static_cast<int>(x); // OK: sets n to 7
int m = x; // OK: sets m to 7
int* p = static_cast<int*>(x); // OK: sets p to null
// int* q = x; // Error: no implicit conversion
int (*pa)[3] = x; // OK
A a=(A)12;
}