C-Style Casts with /clr (C++/CLI)

The latest version of this topic can be found at C-Style Casts with -clr (C++/CLI).

The following topic applies only to the Common Language Runtime.

When used with CLR types, the compiler attempts to map C-style cast to one of the casts listed below, in the following order:

1. const_cast

2. safe_cast

3. safe_cast plus const_cast

4. static_cast

5. static_cast plus const_cast

If none of the casts listed above is valid, and if the type of the expression and the target type are CLR reference types, C-style cast maps to a runtime-check (castclass MSIL instruction). Otherwise, a C-style cast is considered invalid and the compiler issues an error.

Remarks

A C-style cast is not recommended. When compiling with /clr (Common Language Runtime Compilation), use safe_cast.

The following sample shows a C-style cast that maps to a const_cast.

// cstyle_casts_1.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
  
ref struct R {};  
int main() {  
   const R^ constrefR = gcnew R();  
   R^ nonconstR = (R^)(constrefR);   
}  

The following sample shows a C-style cast that maps to a safe_cast.

// cstyle_casts_2.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
int main() {  
   Object ^ o = "hello";  
   String ^ s = (String^)o;  
}  

The following sample shows a C-style cast that maps to a safe_cast plus const_cast.

// cstyle_casts_3.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
  
ref struct R {};  
ref struct R2 : public R {};  
  
int main() {  
   const R^ constR2 = gcnew R2();  
   try {  
   R2^ b2DR = (R2^)(constR2);  
   }  
   catch(InvalidCastException^ e) {  
      System::Console::WriteLine("Invalid Exception");  
   }  
}  

The following sample shows a C-style cast that maps to a static_cast.

// cstyle_casts_4.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
  
struct N1 {};  
struct N2 {  
   operator N1() {  
      return N1();  
   }  
};  
  
int main() {  
   N2 n2;  
   N1 n1 ;  
   n1 = (N1)n2;  
}  

The following sample shows a C-style cast that maps to a static_cast plus const_cast.

// cstyle_casts_5.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
struct N1 {};  
  
struct N2 {  
   operator const N1*() {  
      static const N1 n1;  
      return &n1;  
   }  
};  
  
int main() {  
   N2 n2;  
   N1* n1 = (N1*)(const N1*)n2;   // const_cast + static_cast  
}  

The following sample shows a C-style cast that maps to a run-time check.

// cstyle_casts_6.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
  
ref class R1 {};  
ref class R2 {};  
  
int main() {  
   R1^ r  = gcnew R1();  
   try {  
      R2^ rr = ( R2^)(r);  
   }  
   catch(System::InvalidCastException^ e) {  
      Console::WriteLine("Caught expected exception");  
   }  
}  

The following sample shows an invalid C-style cast, which causes the compiler to issue an error.

// cstyle_casts_7.cpp  
// compile with: /clr  
using namespace System;  
int main() {  
   String^s = S"hello";  
   int i = (int)s;   // C2440  
}  

Requirements

Compiler option: /clr

See Also

Component Extensions for Runtime Platforms