This class provides static helper methods that convert base data types to other base data types. You can also convert objects to base data types, provided they implement the IConvertible interface and cast objects to different types with the ChangeType( ) method.

CLR languages typically allow widening conversions (e.g., Int16 to Int32) through direct assignment. Narrowing conversions require the Convert class or explicit casting. The Convert class does not generate an exception when you lose numeric precision, but it does throw an overflow exception if the source value is too large for the destination data type.

Note that implicit and explicit conversions can return different results than the Convert class. Namely, they truncate significant digits in a narrowing conversion (for example, changing 32.6 to the integer 32), while the Convert class rounds the number automatically (converting 32.6 to 33). The Convert class uses banker's rounding, meaning that the fraction 1/2 is rounded down for even numbers (so 4.5 becomes 4) and rounded up for odd numbers (so 5.5 becomes 6). This helps combat rounding bias.

The ToString( ) methods are functionally equivalent to the Object.ToString( ) method of the corresponding base data types. The conversions from strings to numeric or date data are functionally equivalent to the Parse( ) method of the appropriate data type (e.g., Int32.Parse( )). For string conversions, you can also supply an IFormatProvider object to specify culture-specific formatting information used to interpret or encode a string.

For Boolean conversions, any nonzero number becomes true, except for strings, which are compared against the Boolean.TrueString and Boolean.FalseString fields. When converted to a number, a Boolean false becomes a 0, and a Boolean true becomes a 1.

Some conversion methods are provided only for symmetry and always throw an InvalidCastException. These include any conversion between date and any data type other than string.

public sealed class Convert {
// Public Static Fields
   public static readonly object DBNull;
// Public Static Methods
   public static object ChangeType(object value,  Type conversionType);
   public static object ChangeType(object value, TypeCode typeCode);
   public static object ChangeType(object value, TypeCode typeCode, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static object ChangeType(object value, Type conversionType, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static byte[ ] FromBase64CharArray(char[ ] inArray,  int offset, int length);
   public static byte[ ] FromBase64String(string s);
   public static TypeCode GetTypeCode(object value);
   public static bool IsDBNull(object value);
   public static int ToBase64CharArray(byte[ ] inArray,   int offsetIn, int length, 
      char[ ] outArray, int offsetOut);
   public static string ToBase64String(byte[ ] inArray);
   public static string ToBase64String(byte[ ] inArray,  int offset, int length);
   public static bool ToBoolean(bool value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(byte value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(char value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(DateTime value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(decimal value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(double value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(short value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(int value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(long value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(object value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(object value,  IFormatProvider provider);
   public static bool ToBoolean(sbyte value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(float value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(string value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(string value,  IFormatProvider provider);
   public static bool ToBoolean(ushort value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(uint value);
   public static bool ToBoolean(ulong value);
   public static byte ToByte(bool value);
   public static byte ToByte(byte value);
   public static byte ToByte(char value);
   public static byte ToByte(DateTime value);
   public static byte ToByte(decimal value);
   public static byte ToByte(double value);
   public static byte ToByte(short value);
   public static byte ToByte(int value);
   public static byte ToByte(long value);
   public static byte ToByte(object value);
   public static byte ToByte(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static byte ToByte(sbyte value);
   public static byte ToByte(float value);
   public static byte ToByte(string value);
   public static byte ToByte(string value,  IFormatProvider provider);
   public static byte ToByte(string value, int fromBase);
   public static byte ToByte(ushort value);
   public static byte ToByte(uint value);
   public static byte ToByte(ulong value);
   public static char ToChar(bool value);
   public static char ToChar(byte value);
   public static char ToChar(char value);
   public static char ToChar(DateTime value);
   public static char ToChar(decimal value);
   public static char ToChar(double value);
   public static char ToChar(short value);
   public static char ToChar(int value);
   public static char ToChar(long value);
   public static char ToChar(object value);
   public static char ToChar(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static char ToChar(sbyte value);
   public static char ToChar(float value);
   public static char ToChar(string value);
   public static char ToChar(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static char ToChar(ushort value);
   public static char ToChar(uint value);
   public static char ToChar(ulong value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(bool value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(byte value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(char value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(DateTime value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(decimal value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(double value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(short value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(int value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(long value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(object value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(sbyte value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(float value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(string value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(ushort value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(uint value);
   public static DateTime ToDateTime(ulong value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(bool value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(byte value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(char value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(DateTime value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(decimal value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(double value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(short value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(int value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(long value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(object value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(sbyte value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(float value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(string value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(ushort value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(uint value);
   public static decimal ToDecimal(ulong value);
   public static double ToDouble(bool value);
   public static double ToDouble(byte value);
   public static double ToDouble(char value);
   public static double ToDouble(DateTime value);
   public static double ToDouble(decimal value);
   public static double ToDouble(double value);
   public static double ToDouble(short value);
   public static double ToDouble(int value);
   public static double ToDouble(long value);
   public static double ToDouble(object value);
   public static double ToDouble(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static double ToDouble(sbyte value);
   public static double ToDouble(float value);
   public static double ToDouble(string value);
   public static double ToDouble(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static double ToDouble(ushort value);
   public static double ToDouble(uint value);
   public static double ToDouble(ulong value);
   public static short ToInt16(bool value);
   public static short ToInt16(byte value);
   public static short ToInt16(char value);
   public static short ToInt16(DateTime value);
   public static short ToInt16(decimal value);
   public static short ToInt16(double value);
   public static short ToInt16(short value);
   public static short ToInt16(int value);
   public static short ToInt16(long value);
   public static short ToInt16(object value);
   public static short ToInt16(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static short ToInt16(sbyte value);
   public static short ToInt16(float value);
   public static short ToInt16(string value);
   public static short ToInt16(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static short ToInt16(string value, int fromBase);
   public static short ToInt16(ushort value);
   public static short ToInt16(uint value);
   public static short ToInt16(ulong value);
   public static int ToInt32(bool value);
   public static int ToInt32(byte value);
   public static int ToInt32(char value);
   public static int ToInt32(DateTime value);
   public static int ToInt32(decimal value);
   public static int ToInt32(double value);
   public static int ToInt32(short value);
   public static int ToInt32(int value);
   public static int ToInt32(long value);
   public static int ToInt32(object value);
   public static int ToInt32(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static int ToInt32(sbyte value);
   public static int ToInt32(float value);
   public static int ToInt32(string value);
   public static int ToInt32(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static int ToInt32(string value, int fromBase);
   public static int ToInt32(ushort value);
   public static int ToInt32(uint value);
   public static int ToInt32(ulong value);
   public static long ToInt64(bool value);
   public static long ToInt64(byte value);
   public static long ToInt64(char value);
   public static long ToInt64(DateTime value);
   public static long ToInt64(decimal value);
   public static long ToInt64(double value);
   public static long ToInt64(short value);
   public static long ToInt64(int value);
   public static long ToInt64(long value);
   public static long ToInt64(object value);
   public static long ToInt64(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static long ToInt64(sbyte value);
   public static long ToInt64(float value);
   public static long ToInt64(string value);
   public static long ToInt64(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static long ToInt64(string value, int fromBase);
   public static long ToInt64(ushort value);
   public static long ToInt64(uint value);
   public static long ToInt64(ulong value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(bool value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(byte value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(char value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(DateTime value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(decimal value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(double value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(short value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(int value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(long value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(object value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(sbyte value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(float value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(string value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(string value, int fromBase);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(ushort value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(uint value);
   public static sbyte ToSByte(ulong value);
   public static float ToSingle(bool value);
   public static float ToSingle(byte value);
   public static float ToSingle(char value);
   public static float ToSingle(DateTime value);
   public static float ToSingle(decimal value);
   public static float ToSingle(double value);
   public static float ToSingle(short value);
   public static float ToSingle(int value);
   public static float ToSingle(long value);
   public static float ToSingle(object value);
   public static float ToSingle(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static float ToSingle(sbyte value);
   public static float ToSingle(float value);
   public static float ToSingle(string value);
   public static float ToSingle(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static float ToSingle(ushort value);
   public static float ToSingle(uint value);
   public static float ToSingle(ulong value);
   public static string ToString(bool value);
   public static string ToString(bool value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(byte value);
   public static string ToString(byte value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(byte value, int toBase);
   public static string ToString(char value);
   public static string ToString(char value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(DateTime value);
   public static string ToString(DateTime value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(decimal value);
   public static string ToString(decimal value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(double value);
   public static string ToString(double value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(short value);
   public static string ToString(short value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(short value, int toBase);
   public static string ToString(int value);
   public static string ToString(int value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(int value, int toBase);
   public static string ToString(long value);
   public static string ToString(long value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(long value, int toBase);
   public static string ToString(object value);
   public static string ToString(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(sbyte value);
   public static string ToString(sbyte value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(float value);
   public static string ToString(float value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(string value);
  public static string ToString(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(ushort value);
  public static string ToString(ushort value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(uint value);
   public static string ToString(uint value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static string ToString(ulong value);
   public static string ToString(ulong value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(bool value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(byte value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(char value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(DateTime value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(decimal value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(double value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(short value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(int value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(long value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(object value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(sbyte value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(float value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(string value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(string value,  IFormatProvider provider);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(string value, int fromBase);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(ushort value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(uint value);
   public static ushort ToUInt16(ulong value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(bool value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(byte value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(char value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(DateTime value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(decimal value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(double value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(short value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(int value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(long value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(object value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(object value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static uint ToUInt32(sbyte value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(float value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(string value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static uint ToUInt32(string value, int fromBase);
   public static uint ToUInt32(ushort value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(uint value);
   public static uint ToUInt32(ulong value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(bool value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(byte value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(char value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(DateTime value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(decimal value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(double value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(short value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(int value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(long value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(object value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(object value,  IFormatProvider provider);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(sbyte value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(float value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(string value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(string value, IFormatProvider provider);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(string value, int fromBase);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(ushort value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(uint value);
   public static ulong ToUInt64(ulong value);
}