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How Do You Convert Data Types in Python?

Published in Programming 2 mins read

Python provides built-in functions to convert data types from one to another. These functions are known as type casting functions.

Common Type Casting Functions

  • int(): Converts a value to an integer.
  • float(): Converts a value to a floating-point number.
  • str(): Converts a value to a string.
  • bool(): Converts a value to a Boolean (True or False).

Example:

# Initial values
number = 10
decimal = 3.14
text = "Hello"

# Type casting
integer_from_float = int(decimal)  # Output: 3
float_from_integer = float(number)  # Output: 10.0
string_from_integer = str(number)  # Output: "10"
boolean_from_string = bool(text)  # Output: True

Practical Insights

  • Type casting is essential for performing operations between different data types. For example, you can't add a string to an integer directly, but you can convert the string to an integer first.
  • It's important to note that type casting may lose information. For example, converting a float to an integer will truncate the decimal part.
  • Python also supports implicit type casting, where the interpreter automatically converts data types based on the context. For example, when adding an integer and a float, Python will automatically convert the integer to a float.

Conclusion:

Type casting is a fundamental aspect of Python programming, allowing you to manipulate data types effectively. By understanding the different type casting functions and their use cases, you can write more efficient and robust Python code.

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