Question

I can use Convert.ToString to convert an integer to its binary representation:

int x = 10;
string value = Convert.ToString(x, 2);
Console.WriteLine(value);

I get 1100.

It can even handle negative numbers, as I get 111...0110 (32 bits).

int x = -10;
string value = Convert.ToString(x, 2);
Console.WriteLine(value);

How can I extend this function so that I can give third parameter to get the result with bit filled with 0 (positive value) or 1 (negative value)?

For example, with Convert.ToString(10, 2, 5) –> 01100, and Convert.ToString(-10, 2, 5) –> 10110.

Answer 1

I’ll write my own extension:

public static class ConvertEx
{
    public static string ToStringEx(this int input, int baseVal, int sign)
    {
       var result = sign.ToString();
       result += Convert.ToString(input, baseVal);
       return result;
    }
}

call it as :

(-10).ToStringEx(2,1)

Also there is no need to pass sign just for convention (with question) I pass it.