6.5.4 Cast operators

Syntax

1

cast-expression:

unary-expression

( type-name ) cast-expression

Constraints

2

Unless the type name specifies a void type, the type name shall specify qualified or unqualified scalar type and the operand shall have scalar type.

3

Conversions that involve pointers, other than where permitted by the constraints of 6.5.16.1, shall be specified by means of an explicit cast.

Semantics

4

Preceding an expression by a parenthesized type name converts the value of the expression to the named type. This construction is called a cast.[1] A cast that specifies no conversion has no effect on the type or value of an expression.

5

If the value of the expression is represented with greater precision or range than required by the type named by the cast (6.3.1.8), then the cast specifies a conversion even if the type of the expression is the same as the named type.

Forward References

6.5.9 Equality operators 6.7.5.3 Function declarators (including prototypes)

6.5.16.1 Simple assignment 6.7.6 Type names

Footnotes

[1]

A cast does not yield an lvalue. Thus, a cast to a qualified type has the same effect as a cast to the unqualified version of the type.