What is explicit keyword in c# ?

Hi,

The explicit keyword declares a user-defined type conversion operator that must be invoked with a cast. The conversion operator converts from a source type to a target type. The source type provides the conversion operator. Unlike implicit conversion, explicit conversion operators must be invoked by means of a cast.

class Apartment

{

public string Name { get; set; }

public static explicit operator House(Apartment a)

{

return new House() { Name = a.Name };

}

class House

{

public string Name { get; set; }

public static explicit operator Apartment(House h)

{

return new Apartment() { Name = h.Name };

}

class Program

{

static void Main()

{

House h = new House();

h.Name = "Broadway";

// Cast a House to an Apartment.

Apartment a = (Apartment)h;

// Apartment was converted from House.

Console.WriteLine(a.Name);

}

Output :

Broadway

This program introduces two classes: the Apartment class and the House class. Each also provides a public static explicit operator: the Apartment provides a House operator, and the House provides an Apartment operator.

Another nice example can be viewed here :

http://dotnetinterviewcracker.blogspot.in/2013/06/explicit-keyword-c-conversion-keywords.html

Thanks,

Priyan

1 Reply

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Priyaranjan K S11y ago
Accepted answer
Hi,

The explicit keyword declares a user-defined type conversion operator that must be invoked with a cast. The conversion operator converts from a source type to a target type. The source type provides the conversion operator. Unlike implicit conversion, explicit conversion operators must be invoked by means of a cast.

class Apartment
{
public string Name { get; set; }
public static explicit operator House(Apartment a)
{
return new House() { Name = a.Name };
}
}
class House
{
public string Name { get; set; }
public static explicit operator Apartment(House h)
{
return new Apartment() { Name = h.Name };
}
}
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
House h = new House();
h.Name = "Broadway";
// Cast a House to an Apartment.
Apartment a = (Apartment)h;
// Apartment was converted from House.
Console.WriteLine(a.Name);
}
}
Output :
Broadway

This program introduces two classes: the Apartment class and the House class. Each also provides a public static explicit operator: the Apartment provides a House operator, and the House provides an Apartment operator.

Another nice example can be viewed here :
http://dotnetinterviewcracker.blogspot.in/2013/06/explicit-keyword-c-conversion-keywords.html

Thanks,
Priyan