difference between convert.tostring() and Tostring()

Question

Please explain with an example

Brajesh Kumar · Answer

The basic difference between them is “Convert.ToString(variable)” handles NULL values even if variable value become null but “variable.ToString()” will not handle NULL values it will throw a NULL reference exception error. So as a good coding practice using “convert” is always safe. Example //Returns a null reference exception for str. string str; object i = null ; str = i.ToString(); //Returns an empty string for str and does not throw an exception. If you dont string str; object i = null ; str = Convert.ToString(i); I hope it helps.

Amit Gupta · Answer

Did you tried to take advantage of google? You can get plenty of exanple of this basic question.

Vasanth Natarajan · Answer

yes Mohan Arumugam, not a problem nothing wrong in your code but we are going to handling null or string.empty in string declaration incase string value cleared your code that time we will get the error. pls check and see the difference string strname=null; if(string.isNullorEmpty(strname)) it's getting error but if(string.isNullorEmpty(Convert.Tostring(strname)))//it handle the null value

Mohan Arumugam · Answer

Vasanth Natarajan can u tell whats wrong in it int i =0; MessageBox.Show(i.ToString()); MessageBox.Show(Convert.ToString(i)); We can convert the integer “i” using “i.ToString()” or “Convert.ToString” so what’s the difference. The basic difference between them is “Convert” function handles NULLS while “i.ToString()” does not it will throw a NULL reference exception error. So as good coding practice using “convert” is always safe.

Vasanth Natarajan · Answer

Convert.ToString() handles null, and ToString() doesn't handel null :)

Kaushik Dhameliya · Answer

Convert.ToString() handles null, while ToString() doesn't.

difference between convert.tostring() and Tostring()

Answers (6)