Type Casting vs Type Conversion

In programming languages, it is often necessary to change the value of one data type to another.
Two common terms are used for this transformation:

1. Type Casting
2. Type Conversion

Type Casting:

Type Casting is a process where a data type is forcibly converted to another data type, even if the types are not fully compatible with each other.

🔹 How it works:

• The compiler or interpreter assumes that you know what you are doing.
• It can be unsafe because incorrect type casting can introduce bugs or cause the program to crash.

🔹 Where it is used:

• Type casting is common in languages like C/C++, Java, and others.

🔹 Example (C/C++):

int x = 10;  
float y = (float)x;  // Type casting - forcibly converting int to float

Type Conversion:

Type Conversion is a process where a data type is safely converted to another type. This can be either Implicit (automatic) or Explicit (manual).

🔹 Implicit Conversion (Automatic):

• The compiler automatically and safely converts the type.
• Languages like C/C++ and Java support this kind of conversion.

🔹 Explicit Conversion (Manual):

• The programmer must explicitly perform the type conversion.
• In Golang, only explicit type conversion is allowed.

🔹 Example (Golang):

var x int = 10  
var y float64 = float64(x)  // Type conversion - safely converting int to float 

In Summary:

• Type Casting → Forcibly changes data types (Unsafe, not available in Golang)
• Type Conversion → Safely changes data types (Explicit in Golang)

Golang avoids bugs through type conversion, keeping the code simple and
reliable.