Casting expressions are utilized to convert one data type to another, such as transforming an integer into a string. This is especially crucial in
strongly typed languages like C, C++, C#, Java, Python, and others.
However, there are instances where casting expressions are not needed. These include situations like:
- casting a variable to its own type
- casting a subclass to a parent class (in the case of polymorphism)
- the programming language is capable of automatically converting the given type to another
These scenarios are considered unnecessary casting expressions. They can complicate the code and make it more difficult to understand, without
offering any advantages.
As a result, it’s generally advised to avoid unnecessary casting expressions. Instead, rely on the language’s type system to ensure type safety and
code clarity.
Exceptions
Casting may be required to distinguish the method to call in the case of overloading:
class A {}
class B extends A{}
class C {
void fun(A a){}
void fun(B b){}
void foo() {
B b = new B();
fun(b);
fun((A) b); // Compliant, required to call the first method so cast is not redundant.
}
}
