.toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Ramey
  • Start date Start date
M

Michael Ramey

Hello,

There are quite a few ways to convert one object, say an integer to a
string.

Dim myStr as string
dim myInt as integer = 123

myStr = cstr(myInt)
myStr = myInt.toString()
myStr = CType(myInt, String)
or use DirectCast()

What is the preferred, fastest way? Any way I shouldn't be using because it
could be deprecated?

Thanks,
--Michael
 
DirectCast won't work for this example - it only works if the run time types
are the same e.g.

------------

Dim o as Object = "Hello"
Dim i as Object = Cint(5)
Dim s as string = directcast(o, String) ' Will work, because o is a string
at runtime
Dim s1 as String = directcast(1, String) ' Won't work

------------

As for the other ways, they are more or less the same. In the examples you
gave, if you follow the IL generated, they you'll notice that all end up
calling the Int32.ToString() method.

See the other posts in this group relating to this issue:

"CType() versus Convert.ToXXXX()"
"DirectCast vc CType"

HTH,

Trev.
 
Michael said:
Hello,

There are quite a few ways to convert one object, say an integer to a
string.

Dim myStr as string
dim myInt as integer = 123

myStr = cstr(myInt)
myStr = myInt.toString()
myStr = CType(myInt, String)
or use DirectCast()

What is the preferred, fastest way? Any way I shouldn't be using
because it could be deprecated?

Thanks,
--Michael
Click to expand...

They are are good ways of doing it, but I prefer ToString simply because I
feel it's the most readable.
Pick any of them you like best, and stick with it (for consistancy).

- Pete
 
AirPete said:
They are are good ways of doing it, but I prefer ToString simply
because I feel it's the most readable.
Pick any of them you like best, and stick with it (for consistancy).

- Pete
Click to expand...

Oops, I didn't see DirectCast, and as Trev noted, it only works if the types
are the same.

- pete
 
Oops, I didn't see DirectCast, and as
Trev noted, it only works if the types are the same.
Click to expand...

Or if the types are related by inheritance or interfaces - i.e. a cast is
avaialble - not a conversion.

Trev.
 
Hi Michael.

For .toString you have only to push on the dot.

Why take another one?

Do not forget that in every program language a lot of things are for
backward compatibility.

Cor
 
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