Question

As a C++ beginner I want to write some simple type casts. It there a way to create casting logic which can be used in the type new = (type)old format with the prefix parentheses?

string Text = "Hello";
char* Chars = "Goodbye";
int Integer = 42;

string Message = Text + (string)Integer + (string)Chars + "!";

I’d like to stick with this syntax if possible. For example the string cast of boost int Number = boost::lexical_cast<int>("Hello World") has an unattractive long syntax.

Answer 1

Just use a normal function that you overload for different types:

std::string str(int i) {
   return "an integer";
}

std::string str(char* s) {
   return std::string(s);
}

Then use if not like a cast, but as a normal function call:

string Message = Text + str(Integer) + str(Chars) + "!";