Type Casting in Java

Converting one data type to another data type is known as
type casting. Type Casting in Java is of two types i.e. Implicit Type Casting which
is also known as Automatic Type Casting and Explicit Type Casting.

Implicit or Automatic Type Casting

  • In this, smaller data type is converted to bigger data type which
    is also known as widening.
  • There is no data loss chance.
  • It is done by compiler therefore it is known as automatic
    type casting.
  • Example: byte b=10; int x=b; Here byte type is converted to
    int type.

Explicit Type Casting

  • In this, bigger data type is converted to smaller data type which
    is also known as narrowing.
  • There is data loss chance.
  • It is done by the user with the help of type cast operator i.e.
    ( ).
  • Example: int x=10; byte b=(byte)x; Here int type is
    converted to byte type.

Type Promotion in Java

  • Converting smaller data type to bigger data type is known as
    type promotion.
  • Only promotion is allowed, demotion is not allowed.

Type Promotion Chart

  • This chart tells us about the flow of converting one smaller
    data type to another bigger data type.
  • Double can’t be converted to any data type.
Type Promotion Chart and Type Casting in Java

Note: Long takes
8 bytes while float takes 4 bytes, instead of that long (bigger type) can be
converted to float (smaller type) which is an exception.

1 thought on “Type Casting in Java”

  1. You say that we only convert smaller data type into bigger data type, But in the example of explicit type conversion how int is converted to byte?

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