C++ Typecasting

What are the typecasting mechanisms in C++?

• C++ provides a casting syntax with 4 reserved words, dynamic_cast, const_cast, static_cast and reinterpret_cast

What is dynamic_cast?

• dynamic_cast is used to perform type conversions at run-time.
• dynamic_cast operator can be used only on polymorphic classes. i.e. virtual functions are present.
• On success the dynamic_cast returns a pointer to the object being converted.
• On failure the dynamic_cast returns 0.

EXAMPLE: Demonstrate the basic usage of dynamic_cast

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Base {  
  public:      
     virtual void print() {};
};

class Derived: public Base {};

void main(){
   Base* bPtr;
   Derived dObj;
   Derived* dPtr;

   bPtr = &dObj;

   if ( dPtr = dynamic_cast<Derived *>(bPtr) ) {
       cout << "Type is Derived" << endl;
   }
   else {
       cout << "Type is NOT Derived" << endl;
   }
}

OUTPUT:

Type is Derived

What is static_cast?

• static_cast is used to perform type conversions that are well-defined.
• static_cast doesn't perform any run-time checks.
• static_cast is useful in scenarios where pointer to base class needs to be converted to a pointer to a derived class.

EXAMPLE: Demonstrate scenarios for usage of static_cast

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class Base {
};

class Derived: public Base {
};

void main()
{
   // static_cast for numeric conversions
   float a = 10/7;
   cout << a << endl;

   float b = static_cast<float>(10)/7;
   cout << b << endl;

   // static_cast for pointer conversions
   Base* bPtr;
   Derived dObj;
   Derived* dPtr;

   bPtr = &dObj;
   dPtr = static_cast<Derived*>(bPtr);
   bPtr = static_cast<Base*>(dPtr);
}

OUTPUT:

1
1.42857

What is const_cast?

• const_cast is used when it is required to convert a const to a non-const.
• This is also referred casting away constness

EXAMPLE: Demonstrate the usage of const_cast

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class MyClass {
      int data1;

   public:
      MyClass() { data1 = 100; }
      void Print() { cout << data1 << endl; }
};

void myfunc(MyClass* ptr)
{
   ptr->Print();
}

void main()
{
   const MyClass* ptr = new MyClass();

   /* Errors on call myfunc
      myfunc(ptr);
      Error E2034 dyncast.cpp 18: Cannot convert 'const MyClass *' to 'MyClass *' in function main()
      Error E2342 dyncast.cpp 18: Type mismatch in parameter 'ptr' (wanted 'MyClass *', got 'const MyClass *') in function main()
   */

   MyClass* ptr1 = const_cast<MyClass*>(ptr);
   myfunc(ptr1); // Ok

}

OUTPUT:

100

What is reinterpret_cast?

• reinterpret_cast is used when it is required to assign one pointer type to another.
• reinterpret_cast is the least safe and potential source of bugs.

EXAMPLE: Demonstrate the usage of reinterpret_cast

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void myfunc(void *arg)
{
   int val = reinterpret_cast<int>(arg);
   cout << val << endl;
}

void main()
{
   int a = 100;
   void* ptr = reinterpret_cast<void*>(a);
   myfunc(ptr);
}

OUTPUT:

100