


What are the different types of casts in C (static_cast, dynamic_cast, etc.)?
Jul 02, 2025 am 01:11 AMC++中的類型轉(zhuǎn)換操作符各有用途。1. static_cast用于基本類型轉(zhuǎn)換,如數(shù)值類型轉(zhuǎn)換及繼承體系中的指針轉(zhuǎn)換;2. dynamic_cast用于多態(tài)體系中的安全向下轉(zhuǎn)型,具備運(yùn)行時檢查;3. reinterpret_cast用于底層比特位的重新解釋,如無關(guān)指針類型間的轉(zhuǎn)換;4. const_cast用于添加或移除const、volatile等限定符。每種轉(zhuǎn)換操作符均有其特定應(yīng)用場景及限制。
C++ provides several casting operators to handle type conversions in a more controlled and safe manner than traditional C-style casts. These include static_cast
, dynamic_cast
, reinterpret_cast
, and const_cast
. Each has its own use case and limitations.

static_cast
– For Basic Type Conversions
This is the most commonly used cast when you're converting between compatible types, especially numeric types. It’s checked at compile time, so it doesn't incur runtime overhead.

Use cases:
- Convert
int
tofloat
- Convert pointers in an inheritance hierarchy (but without runtime checks)
- Cast from derived class pointer/reference to base class (upcasting), or vice versa (downcasting) — but be careful with the latter
For example:

float f = static_cast<float>(5);
It’s safer than C-style casts because it prevents some dangerous conversions, but still won’t stop you from doing something like casting unrelated pointer types if you try hard enough.
dynamic_cast
– For Safe Downcasting in Polymorphic Hierarchies
This one is mainly used for handling polymorphism. It performs a runtime check to ensure the conversion is valid, which makes it slower than static_cast
.
Use cases:
- Casting a base class pointer/reference to a derived class (downcasting)
- Only works with classes that have at least one virtual function (i.e., polymorphic types)
If the cast fails, it returns nullptr
for pointers or throws an exception for references.
Example:
Base* b = new Derived(); Derived* d = dynamic_cast<Derived*>(b); if (d) { // cast succeeded }
This is particularly useful in large inheritance trees where you might not always know what kind of object you’re dealing with.
reinterpret_cast
– For Low-Level Reinterpretation of Bit Patterns
This is the most dangerous and least portable cast. It basically tells the compiler to treat one type as another — often used for low-level programming.
Use cases:
- Casting between pointers of unrelated types
- Converting pointer to integer and vice versa
- Manipulating memory at a low level
Example:
int* p = new int(10); uintptr_t addr = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(p);
Only use this when absolutely necessary, such as in systems programming or when working with hardware registers.
const_cast
– For Removing const
, volatile
, or constexpr
Qualifiers
This cast is used to add or remove qualifiers like const
or volatile
. Its primary purpose is to allow calling functions that aren’t const
on objects that are declared as const
.
Use cases:
- Removing
const
from a variable - Sometimes used to bypass const correctness, though this should be done with care
Example:
const int a = 10; int* b = const_cast<int*>(&a); *b = 20; // undefined behavior!
Modifying a value that was originally declared const
leads to undefined behavior, so tread carefully.
In summary, each cast serves a different purpose:
- Use
static_cast
for basic conversions - Use
dynamic_cast
when dealing with polymorphic types and downcasting - Use
reinterpret_cast
only when working with bits and low-level data - Use
const_cast
very selectively, and never to modify original const values
基本上就這些。
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