Question

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Regular cast vs. static_cast vs. dynamic_cast

i’ve been using C-like casts since i’ve been programming:

class* initializedClassInstance;
void* test = (void*) initializedClassInstance;

and i’ve been told somewhere that i should get used to C++ casts (static_cast, dynamic_cast…).

Is there a reason to prefer one over the other (C++ over C style)?
There is a difference between static cast and dynamic cast, right? But what is it?

Thanks!

Answer 1

C-style casts are unsafe.

C++-style casts behave in another way. static_cast will give you a compilation error if it can’t make the cast.
dynamic_cast on fail will cast to NULL if you are casting pointers, and throw an exception otherwise.

So this allows you to write a safer code.