Question

I am working on a tool where I need to convert string values to their proper object types. E.g. convert a string like '2008-11-20T16:33:21Z' to a DateTime value. Numeric values like '42' and '42.42' must be converted to an Int32 value and a Double value respectively.

What is the best and most efficient approach to detect if a string is an integer or a number? Are Int32.TryParse or Double.TryParse the way to go?

Answer 1

In terms of efficiency, yes, TryParse is generally the preferred route.

If you can know (for example, by reflection) the target type in advance – but don’t want to have to use a big switch block, you might be interested in using TypeConverter – for example:

        DateTime foo = new DateTime(2008, 11, 20);         TypeConverter converter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(foo);         string s = converter.ConvertToInvariantString(foo);         object val = converter.ConvertFromInvariantString(s);